Staff turnover

Nurses General Nursing

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I am currently working in a large hospital on a very busy Med/Surg floor. I have been a nurse for 4 1/2 years and have been at this hospital for 9 months. Since working there I have seen 9 nurses leave. I have no intention of leaving myself but my question is how do you stay motivated when things seem to be falling apart around you? Everyone is very negative and unhappy. We are always short staffed, the acuity of our patients is very high and we have a non-confrontational manager. There are currently 4 more nurses planning to leave. I'm feeling very discouraged.

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

NO ONE "slammed" you and you don't get to control what responses you get when you post a question on a public forum. Simply take what you can use and discard the rest, but don't get all butt-hurt because people's opinions are not what you want to hear. It does not work that way. And it's EVERYONE's job to improve a unit's morale, culture and behaviors. The unit is made up of these very people. No manager can do it all alone. If you are gonna stick around, then it starts with you. IF you are "so sad" about the situation, do your part to change it. Or leave.

It is a managers problem to fix when all of their staff are leaving. We know what the problems are and have made them aware but they are not fixing it. I'm not unhappy there nor have I said that I was. I am sad and discouraged that so many good nurses are leaving. I'm trying to stay positive among so much negativity. This is a forum to discuss these things among peers but not to get slammed with judgements. Maybe we should all just post about rainbows and unicorns?
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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
We know what the problems are and have made them aware but they are not fixing it.

But have the staff provided any suggestions on how to fix those problems? It is not just the manager's job to fix it; the staff make up the unit and thus need to work on morale as well.

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Specializes in Float Pool - A Little Bit of Everything.

This has unfortunately been the same situation in almost all of the settings and facilities I have worked in. I am almost always a float pool RN so I get to see many different floors, facilities, and personalities. There are a wide array of problems plaguing nursing practice right now. In some settings I saw lateral violence, in some settings I saw sexual harassment, in some I saw violence from the demographic on the staff, in some under staffing, etc. Every place and floor even, had their own variety of issues. Turnover and burnout affected a great majority of the places and staff I have worked with. I wish there was one simple solution but I find that the issues are so dynamic and vary so widely in each place that it is hard to say what could fix your facility or help motivate you in such a negative environment. I always tell other nurses that it never hurts to further your education and get involved with the legislative processes regulating and affecting health care. Hope you find some peace in a crummy situation!

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Specializes in PCCN.
It is a managers problem to fix when all of their staff are leaving. We know what the problems are and have made them aware but they are not fixing it. I'm not unhappy there nor have I said that I was. I am sad and discouraged that so many good nurses are leaving. I'm trying to stay positive among so much negativity. This is a forum to discuss these things among peers but not to get slammed with judgements. Maybe we should all just post about rainbows and unicorns?

No, the managers are only doing their job- run as mean and lean as possible. Just like a factory job. We are seen as just numbers- not special snowflakes. With there being no shortage- and colleges pumping out RNs 2x a year, the general consensus is "don't let the door hit you...." and bring on the next new hire/new grad. Experience means nothing anymore. Other than experience = more cost to the company. And more cost = less bonus to the manager.

That's just the way it is ..... :(

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Specializes in Med-surg, telemetry, oncology, rehab, LTC, ALF.

It sounds like the poor morale is affecting your attitude towards this unit. I would move on and find a better place to work.Schedule

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

You know the BEST leaders and managers I have known in the military and in nursing, did not just let staff simply dump their problems at their doorstep. They would ask if we first had SOLUTIONS to bring to the table. Then they took those ideas into consideration, and the ones that could work, put them to use. I say again, NO ONE PERSON can change the culture of a unit. It takes the village, so to speak, to make such big changes happen. Bring solutions, not just complaints, and you might get somewhere.

Management is a tough and thankless job. Cut that manager some slack and help him/her solve those problems, or nothing will ever change.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I agree that the managers job is tough and thankless. From what I understand being there less than a year these problems have always existed. I know there are problems everywhere. I appreciate those of you that have given constructive advice. I'm not looking to leave where I am, just trying to find ways to stay positive. I have been a member of this forum for many years and sometimes we just need to vent which is what I was trying to do. I will be deleting this post and from now on will just read about other people in similar situations. Hopefully those that are critical will not find themselves in situations where they need to vent or seek advice. Thank you to all of you that understand and can relate.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

If I do need to vent or ask questions, I won't shoot down those with whom I disagree or have opinions I don't like. I have the maturity and where-with-all to handle what I asked for, to start with. I am aware this is a public forum and all kinds of opinions will follow any questions I have to ask. I will acknowledge, it's a lot tougher to be asked to bring creative solutions, rather than just gripe to my manager. Some are just not up to the task. That is fine. But then they need to understand, they are either choosing to settle, or will simply move on to an environment better suited to them. Those are the only solutions left when one is not willing to actively work for change.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

First of all you don't have any idea what I have or intend to do to facilitate change. There is a right and wrong way to speak to people whether on a public forum or not. Not everyone has that ability which is sad.

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If the problem has been going on for years, it's a poisoned work environment, the best solution is to get out before you burn out. It's easier to be proactive and prevent burn out than to try and bounce back from it.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
First of all you don't have any idea what I have or intend to do to facilitate change. There is a right and wrong way to speak to people whether on a public forum or not. Not everyone has that ability which is sad.
There sure is a lot of this lately. OP posts questions/asks opinions. OP does not like some of them. OP then accuses those who dissent of being "rude" or "incapable" or "unable" or whatever.......Funny how it works. You ask a question on a public forum, don't like what you hear so you project unfavorable impressions on those from whom you ASKED their opinion in the first place.

A lot of this going on here lately

But you are right; I have no idea what you intend to do to take action. You have not said you will. Just complained.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.

Most people don't quit bad jobs, they quit bad management.

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