gleanns

I think the application process opened yesterday. I submitted my application today.

Abrazo is a for profit hospital corporation. I have worked as a traveler and as a registry RN in both the Arrowhead and West facilities. I am an OB RN so that is where my experience is limited. I had no problem with the company. Of course, that was more than 5 years ago and they are now owned by Tenet so different ownership.

I'm in the same boat....no credit check....

I would assume that the application management system does "keep a resume on file" but that doesn't mean that the NM is able to view it once their job requisition has been filled. Unless someone's name is unusual...I may not notice that the same name keeps popping up. There are a lot of variables, time between openings, number of applicants etc.

Oh wow. As a Nurse Manager and a Director I don't have the time to go through and call every single applicant and discuss why I didn't select them. The applications that I don't select are sent the form letter from the application management system. Let's talk about the application management system...I have used Taleo and HiringManager. In both of those systems once the position is filled, I can no longer see the applications or resumes. They are gone. When a new position is posted, I assume only new applicants are sent to me. I don't believe that HR goes back through the older applications that were not selected the first time and re-sends them to me via the system. (I could be wrong here) So...apply every time. I oversee Labor and Delivery, Postpartum and NICU. I typically want the path to NICU to be via Postpartum, Peds, PICU, and ICU. I will hire people who have postpartum experience because they have normal newborn experience. Peds and PICU are in the ballpark. ICU has critical care skills. It is very difficult to come to a NICU without having experience in one of those areas. I would attempt to transfer to one of those areas first. Most organizations have email with a global email address book. If you know that NM email...send her a quick email outlining your interest to eventually work in the NICU and ask what her preferred path to NICU would be. Attempt to meet with her or call her. Don't be pushy...but I like the initiative it shows when someone takes that extra bit of effort. Just my opinion and experience.

I applied as an RN.

Last year I fell into Tier 1 and this year Tier 2. I didn't get a credit check...and I am not super hopeful...but I would love to get this kind of help! Student loan bills are a big chunk of my monthly bills! Good luck!

How soon do applications start being accepted or rejected?

An organization can choose to not accept your resignation and terminate instead, unfortunately. Most places will not give any information except eligibility for rehire...but if a potential employer hears you are not eligible for rehire they will pass as well.

Yes, I am a nursing director. No, I'm not out of touch. I do work in one of the more protected areas when it comes to nurse:patient ratios. Labor and Delivery, Postpartum, and NICU follow AWHONN guidelines for staffing. I'm sure that part of the reason for that is due to the fact that these areas are highly litigious areas. Customer Service is one of the metrics that influence reimbursement, like it or not. I have seen articles that have brought attention to the fact that this is not perhaps the best practice. This asks the lay person to evaluate medical care based on their only frame of reference which may be similar to their hotel or restaurant expectations. Unfortunately, until that changes, these are the rules of the game we have to play by. CMS is in control of this and without changes private insurers are starting to follow their lead. I understand the time crunch. Electronic documentation systems take up to a third of a nurses time. I've read that dealing with issues or barriers to patient care; missing meds, transport, etc, can eat up another third of the nurses time. I also agree that the patients who are admitted are sicker and require more care. Administration does expect more. I agree that there should be some work done from both sides to close the gap. Having adequate staffing and support is one of those things that definitely influence customer satisfaction. The patients know when their nurses are over worked. I do absolutely believe in what I wrote. I have seen far too many nurse:patient interactions that have not been a result of short staffing or hurried nurses that have been lacking in just plain old kindness. The old saying that nurses eat their young is played out in many facilities every day. That it should over to patients is no surprise. Don't get me wrong, there are some absolutely fabulous nurses who run their socks off and provide excellent care. I work with some amazing nurses. I'm more concerned with the ones who just don't care. I'm interested in the discussions that have followed this article. Always a learning experience!

I drive 42 miles each way....5 days a week. I also pass at least 5 hospitals on my commute but I love the people I work with, the patient population and I would not want to switch to a hospital closer to home. I work for a county owned hospital and the private non profit hospitals are not management or staff friendly in my opinion.

Over the course of my nursing career I have heard endless spiels about "customer service" and "patient satisfaction" and the importance of these two things. What no one really explained was how I fit into that equation or what the ramifications of those scores meant to the organization or me personally. With that in mind, I am going to address those things now for all of you. First, let's define customer service. In healthcare it seems to be this vague, arbitrary term that is interpreted to mean whatever makes the patient happy. Let's be clear on what we're talking about and not taking about here. The phrase "customer service" is an umbrella term that refers to how a person or entity (healthcare facility, professional association, business, individual practitioner) treats the people they serve. By "serve" I mean tending to those who come to us for help, advice, medical care. The phrase "customer service" is not "waiting on people" like a waitress in a restaurant. Nor does it imply that those we serve must be called "customers" rather than "patients." It's the concept not the terminology that matters. The phrase is universal. I frequently hear things like, "I just want to come to work and do my job" or "I am a nurse not a waitress" or my personal favorite, "Employee satisfaction is going to decrease if I am expected to worry about patient satisfaction." Let's be honest ... nursing is an educational degree that equipped all of us with a certain set of clinical skills and knowledge however, in today's healthcare world, having the degree and skills isn't enough. Healthcare is a customer service industry. Granted, we are a highly educated customer service provider but we still provide a service. Today, being a good nurse also includes being able to provide good customer service. Treating patients and families with courtesy and respect, empowering patients to participate in their decision making, making them feel safe and cared for, providing them with information...all of those skills are part of what used to be called "bedside manner." That was a basic nursing skill because most people went into nursing with the desire to help people. I've heard nurses say that we do these things "only" for patient satisfaction scores. Of course the scores are tool to measure how well patients perceive their overall care and hospital experience. A patient's perception does play a role in his/her care because we all know that the happier, safer, and more cared for patients feel, the better their recovery; the fewer times they hit the call button; the less inclined they are to initiate a law suit; and the more inclined they are to have good feelings about the facility and it's staff overall. These things are all important to any nurse because it impacts our livelihood. It impacts our livelihood!! I will explain how that happens... Healthcare reimbursement is decreasing and costs are going up. We can save money on supplies and try to find other cost savings measures, but that will not close the gap. Payroll is around 65% of a healthcare organization's operating budget. With healthcare reimbursement being tied to performance on patient satisfaction scores, of course it will have an impact on payroll and your paycheck. Many organizations have had to freeze wages, decrease educational support, or reduce benefits. Raises cannot be given if there is a decreasing amount of money coming in to the organization. Every employee is responsible for their piece of "patient satisfaction." Nursing is the single largest work force in the organization and the closest to the patient. We can have a large impact on our patient's perceptions of their care here. That is how you personally fit into this equation and how the organization's reimbursement ultimately affects you personally. Like it or not, the care you give, the attitudes you display, the interactions you have with patients and families have an impact on the scores...the financial health of the organization, and ultimately on your own paycheck. It's a give/take relationship. It may be one you are not fully invested in or believe you should have to participate in. Perhaps you are feeling like you shouldn't be held accountable for those patient satisfaction scores. I challenge you to find a nursing job anywhere where you are not held accountable. Coming to work to "just do your job" now includes doing a great job with customer service. It does not mean you are a highly educated waitress. It does not mean that you are going to make every encounter positive at the detriment of clinical outcomes. We are never going to make every person happy. It does mean that you need to come to work prepared to spend time with patients and their families communicating clearly and helping those patients and families feel empowered to participate in their care.

I believe I am Tier 2 based on my income. Last year I was Tier 1...but I saw that Tier 2 people were getting funded. I am not certain, but it appears that they sift through the applications in the order they get them. I (and others) thought they got all of the applications and then took the Tier 1 applicants until the monies had been exhausted. I don't really know. I am just hoping that I get picked this year!

I applied last year...but due to issues with it saying my social security number was already in the system I couldn't complete my application until 2 days before the program closed. I think I was at the bottom of the pile and didn't even get looked at. I literally JUST submitted my application so I hope this year I get a better chance. I work at a Critical Shortage Facility with a score of 18.

Congrats! What tier and D to I ratio???