"My" job is being advertised in the employment ad!

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I happened to be browsing through the employment advertisements today, and saw that my place of employment had several nursing positions open. The ad, which was new, indicated that the facility was ready to hire 2 day shift nurses, 1 evening nurse, and a nurse manager. That equates to 4 nursing positions.

I became suspicious. This smallish facility has been critically understaffed with CNAs for a long time, and presently has 15 CNA openings that they are not advertising in the paper. The only nursing positions that became available, however, are due to 2 coworkers who recently submitted their two week notices of resignation (one was the manager).

My antennas are up. I suspect the administrator is planning to purge the place of a few of its current nurses, and replace us with new hires. I should mention that the evening nurse and I are friends with the 2 people who submitted their resignation letters. This equals 4 nurses who would be replaced. Am I paranoid?

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

i think next time you go in .. ask them... i've been in that situation before and i said " okay , is there something i should know??" and made a joke out of it.. and i found out they were expanding the staff.. it's more than likely it's not your job.... keep me posted and everything will be ok....

if you ask at least you will know... why beat around the bush?

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

I worked in management for some time. There are often many more positions available than there are actual staff to fill them. That's why there is a nursing shortage. These positions may have been created from pooling together part time or PRN positions that had remained unfilled for some time. I saw this kind of thing done a lot as a manager to boost the staffing levels and free up money in the budget that couldn't be used. It might be possible that because they can't staff with CNAs they are going to try to staff with licensed people. It'd be hard to know what is going on when you haven't been sitting in the management meetings where the decisions have been made.

However, why would a small facility place an ad in a public paper knowing that some of it's staff would most likely see it if they were planning to fire some of you? That doesn't make any sense. Someone with any brains would know they would have a bunch of upset workers. Then again, I've also heard of places that will do this just to get applicants to see if anybody interesting walks in the door. They never had any intention of hiring anyone at all.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

Another thought. . .it is very expensive for a facility to unjustly fire workers, especially if they do it to a group of workers around the same time. It looks suspicious. If they trump up charges to fire people, they better do it very carefully or people can file grievances with the labor board. If the state labor board smells a rat, they will get in trouble.

Laying people off is also an expensive deal, but more honorable. If they lay people off, the facility ends up reimbursing the state for the unemployment benefits that the state pays out to any workers that file for it.

They can also negotiate a severance deal to get people to resign voluntarily. This was done at one facility where I worked. I found out some time much later that they wanted one nurse out in the worst way but they just could not get anything on her to fire her. They offered her 4 weeks pay if she would resign and leave immediately on the condition that she say nothing to any of the other employees. We all wondered what happened to her when she didn't show up for work. We were only told that she had resigned and no longer worked there.

That said, if you are worried something like this might happen, read up on the facility's disciplinary policy (they must follow their own disciplinary policy or the state labor board will have a cow and give them grief) and make sure you follow rules. Don't give anyone a reason to write you up for something serious.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Commuter, my place will post a "blind" ad if they're going to get rid of current staff. If it's public it means they're adding.

I hope that's what it means where you are.

[JeanineLPN1984]

As the previous posters stated it's just to up the staff and have relief for the rest of you.

It reminded me years ago at a facility I was the restorative nurse for 2 years and was planning on maternity leave. I got to pick the nurse I would train and who would take care of everything while I was on maternity leave. So I picked this really smart one, she was a quick learner and did great in my absence. So great in fact, she went to the DON and wanted to keep my job! She even offered to work for less pay. Nice.

I only took 4 weeks, because survey was coming up and my DON ( that I was in touch with) told me. She had to tell her, that although she filled my position well, there was alot more for her to learn. And one of the things was how to work as a team member, and not try for another nurses' position while she was in it ( something like that).

She went back to floor nursing and all was well.

So don't worry so much, my company does blind ads once a month in the local paper just to attract staff and they will put all shifts available even if there isn't.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I would follow the suggestions posted and do a friendly inquiry like kizzykat suggested. But I understand your feeling...we have seen too much in nursing and it is natural to become suspicious to preserve ourselves. From a personal standpoint, I think highly of you based on your posts and feel if there is an undercurrent going on to release people, then, they will lose a great person...for what that is worth.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

During a workplace inservice meeting last week, the facility administrator commented, "Two CNAs are just as good as four CNAs. You people know how to work short and get it done with 2 aides." As soon as she said this, the 50 or so employees present at this meeting started booing and yelling, "No!"

By the way, this is 2 aides to care for 50 patients (instead of the usual 4).

[hotmama2be]

I wouldn't worry to much if they have the need for extra staff they are probably just filling the holes . Since you mentioned the CNA staffing is low and that 2 of co- workers are leaving they are just replenishing the staffing for your benefit most likely. If you still feel uncomfortable about it approach a manager you feel comfortable with and address your concerns.

GOOD LUCK

[Xbox Live Addict]

During a workplace inservice meeting last week, the facility administrator commented, "Two CNAs are just as good as four CNAs. You people know how to work short and get it done with 2 aides." As soon as she said this, the 50 or so employees present at this meeting started booing and yelling, "No!"

By the way, this is 2 aides to care for 50 patients (instead of the usual 4).

Firstly, given the fact that today's NH residents are as sick as the acute-care hospital patients of years past, 2 CNAs for 50 residents is not safe care. Secondly, it is "doable" if the CNAs are willing to risk personal injury and just run nonstop to attempt to provide halfway adequate care. But here's another good question: Why would they want to do so??? Will the CNAs that do this care get double pay, or a medal, for this heroic level of care? Ha, ha.

I suspect that if your administrator is not careful, she and the DON will end up being the two staff members providing the care for 50 residents.

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

I would follow the suggestions posted and do a friendly inquiry like kizzykat suggested. But I understand your feeling...we have seen too much in nursing and it is natural to become suspicious to preserve ourselves. From a personal standpoint, I think highly of you based on your posts and feel if there is an undercurrent going on to release people, then, they will lose a great person...for what that is worth.

i totally agree with you , they will be loosing a great person. they would be foolish to let you go.. and i don't think they are letting you go...

[ohmeowzer RN, RN]

what happened did you hear anything.... i don't like their new staffing for CNA's ... not good....