EmergencyLoveRN

I've been working on finding memorable ideas for this years' ER Nurse Week celebration too. Our facility is VERY small and is limited by financial constraints, but I want my nurses to get the recognition and appreciation they fully deserve. I am planning on having food catered in (pizza, local, whatever), a nice flower arrangement for the department, and a "fun" awards presentation from co-worker appointed nominations. I hope to find some kind of token (tote bag, name badges, etc.) of thanks to give as well.

In that case I think Sacred Heart Pensacola would be ur best bet. I've done alot of travel nursing in Northwest Florida and the Midwest and have NEVER had a better orientation than I did at Sacred Heart. I signed on with them as part-time PRN staff (once upon a time, last summer). They offer SO much! I would call a nurse recruiter there and find out about a loan repayment program. I would be shocked if they didn't have something like that in place. They have amazing programs and educational opportunties. Good luck!

Healthmark Regional in DeFuniak Springs, FL (an hr from Pcola) also provides IV certification and hires LPN's. LPN's are found in the ER, ICU, and Med/Surg units.

i work for a rural florida proprietary-owned 6-bed emergency department. administration is trying to implement a new triage system that would be cost effective for the hospital in reducing the incidence of self-pay non-emergent patients abusing emergency room services. in other words..."free" medical care, since these patients rarely if ever follow through on a pay schedule and pay for services rendered. the current system is set up for the patient to get an "emergency medical screening" (ems) as state law dictates. if the patient is deemed non-urgent by the physician, he/she is then sent to the rural health clinic located on the same campus or directed to another facility if they aren't able to make payment. state laws and federal rules and regulations state "if a patient does not have an emergency medical condition they pay for the services to be treated or they are not treated". this system seems to work great during the day when the business office and clinic are open. however, patients have quickly learned that after-hours there are no clerks available to verify insurance coverage and/or request payment. administration is attempting to place this duty to the night nursing staff and threatening disciplinary action including possible termination if non-urgent patients are being treated anyway "regardless of ability to pay". the owner refuses to pay the extra money necessary to keep a 24/7 clerk on staff. to make matters more challenging, the hospital has not converted to a computerized system allowing for quick, easy access to previous records or patient verification records. medical records are also unavailable after hours. we are at the mercy of what the patient tells us and the identification they may or may not have with them. i don't believe a medical professional should play the role of debt collector. i would love some advice and or florida law guidelines that i can present to my director to show that nursing staff should not have to take on this dreaded role. what system works for other small hospitals?