The economy and your job

[StephanieS321]

Hey. I was just wondering your job has been affected by the economy recently? less overtime available, working less days, no raises, etc....

[RNperdiem, RN]

I work in SICU, nothing elective here, and we stay full.

There is usually overtime available, and as a per diem I haven't had to be cancelled at all recently.

I do remember working in the early and mid 90's when the economy was shaky, there was not a nursing shortage. Sign on bonuses disappeared, weekend pay plans were phased out, and it took a longer time for many new grads to find a first job since many nursing ed departments faced cutbacks.

[ggfifirn05]

We are really feeling the economic crunch right now. Hiring freeze in place; no overtime at all; really watching our pennies and making sure supplies are charged to the patient, etc. Just got our annual raise, but basically just cost-of-living increase. Of course, it doesn't help that we just moved into a brand new state-of-the-art gazillion dollar facility six months ago. Oops, they went WAY over budget to build the new hospital...didn't anticipate this kind of economy within 6 months of opening. But we've got beautiful flat screen TVs in every room and lovely signed artwork in all the corridors...

I'm in SICU now, and we aren't working short, and the census stays pretty high, but we've done away with the extra RN per shift, and the PRN staff has only been working 1 shift every other week. Rumor has it that they may start laying off PRN next. And from what I've heard, all the hospitals in our area are in the same boat. Only time will tell...Thank God gas has gotten a little cheaper though.