Staffing

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Has anyone else noticed how great staffing levels are lately? I am Per Diem and have been having the hardest time getting the hours I need because staffing is so great. Of course I love that there are always the nurses necessary to run the department and not having to go too crazy :-) I guess I just have to suck it up and find an additional per diem job to fill in the gaps.

When I got canceled a couple of weeks ago(very rare occurence) I was told that the travel nurses now have it written into their contracts that they cannot be canceled(they would be paid anyway if you tried).
With my company, I'm guaranteed a minimum number of hours. There's nothing in my contract that says I can't get canceled but if I am called off due to low census, I still get paid. On my first assignment, I got called off a lot; the charge nurses figured that since I was the 'most expensive' person working (which I'm not, btw), they would be saving the hospital money.

As the hospital has to pay the company regardless, doing so doesn't save them any money. They usually find somewhere for us to work if regular staff doesn't want the day off (but it's pretty rare someone doesn't jump at that chance).

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Specializes in Executive, DON, CM, Utilization.

Good Morning!

Overall the cost is higher, and increases all costs--this is statistically relevant.

This type of "nursing" affects morale of all staff, effective communication, and the cost of health care in an "industry" that is truly based on profit motive today.

Floating due to low census can be a danger to clients, and the regular nursing staff thus assigned to said unit.

I'm sorry to reply late I do not check in daily!

Have a wonderful day,

Karen G.

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I am an agency LPN and right now, it seems that the other agencies are cutting costs(to the LTC facility) so that they get all the shifts (quantitiy --- definately not quality) their nurses/CNA's get most of the shifts, but on the odd day that I get a shift and follow them, things are not done, or not done right, or the meds were not reordered...... ARGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

My agency has been told that "you cost too much"..... sad truth???? You get what you pay for LOL.....

Faye

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