Rudd's attempt to lure nurses back

gradcare, LPN · Jan 15, 2008

I don't think it will have a major effect in bringing people back. Not everyone left for beter wages. Until conditions improve and nurses feel respected and supported by admin will they return.

nyapa, RN · Jan 15, 2008

I was quite offended when I saw it on TV at first. Throwing money at ppl to return? For one year? Does he think that they are stupid?

But then he spoke about extra funded places at universities. He also recognised that there is a shortfall.

But:

- I know at my hospital I had a couple of experiences when there were as many students as staff on the wards! Now you can create as many university places as you like, but it is really hard for both students and nurses under those conditions. (I was one of the students at the time)

- Rudd should genuinely poll nurses and find why they are leaving. Instead of throwing money he should address these issues.

On an aside, I saw on another thread how in florida if nurses are assaulted the action is treated the same as if a police officer were attacked (they are viewed as emergency personnel). The only way the charge does not go ahead is if the victim doesn't want it to happen, otherwise it is mandatory.

Now wouldn't something like that entice ppl back to nursing?

bethem · Jan 15, 2008

Didn't Howard already try this before he was kicked out? The latest Royal College of Nursing Australia newsletter discusses the effects of the 'bonus' payment to nurses who return to the workforce. They found that some huge percentage of the nurses who did return in order to get the payment had quit again quicksticks because nothing had changed in the workplace.

It's not a solution to the problem, in my opinion.

Grace Oz · Jan 16, 2008

I reckon they should pay a bonus to the nurses who have stuck with it and kept the wheels moving!!!

Where would the public be without these nurses???!!!!!

gwenith, BSN, RN · Jan 17, 2008

I reckon they should pay a bonus to the nurses who have stuck with it and kept the wheels moving!!!
Where would the public be without these nurses???!!!!!

Totally agree Grace!

I might actually talk to my local member who is in the Rudd cabinet about ways to fix the nursing shortfall. One initiative is to break the universities of the january to december mindset. We need bigger intakes mid-year so we can get them graduating mid year.

Djuna · Jan 17, 2008

Oh Grace, I totally agree with you. It's almost like a kick in the teeth for those of us going to work 5, 6 days a week, overworked, understaffed, putting up with the public, plugging the gaps. Where is our thanks? Where is our bonus for a job well done?

Not only do management not care, the government doesn't want to acknowledge our efforts in keeping the health system functioning.

nyapa, RN · Jan 18, 2008

Totally agree Grace!
I might actually talk to my local member who is in the Rudd cabinet about ways to fix the nursing shortfall. One initiative is to break the universities of the january to december mindset. We need bigger intakes mid-year so we can get them graduating mid year.

Maybe we should all do that! BTW students in other states: do they set the pracs all year round? The students up here lately have been doing it over the Christmas period including Christmas and New Years Day.

kukukajoo, LPN · Jan 18, 2008

How bad are conditions over there for you Nurses?

I think it is awful that they won't up the pay of the nurses sticking it out. I think what this guy is trying to say is that you should all decide to take a year off from nursing so you can come back to some fat bonuses! That would show them!