We're Like Travelers, In Our Own Hospital! $$

[JBMmom]

I guess my hospital finally reached a breaking point and was forced to pony up some cash. We have a small ICU with 12 beds, when I left this morning we had 29 critical care patients in the hospital. We have vented patients in PCU, PACU, the ED, etc. And the number of rapid responses/codes has increased throughout the hospital. Starting today there is a $100 PER HOUR bonus to pick up shifts for all nurses and respiratory therapists, on top of regular pay and shift diff/weekend diff etc. It's only authorized for two weeks because goodness knows the minute there's less of a surge they will cancel it, but it's at least a step in the right direction of staffing us appropriately. Maybe our night RNs on med surg will have less than eight patients each. It would be nice if we weren't constantly tripled in the ICU, but given the number of staff available and the number of critical care patients, that's not likely. But I'll have a couple really nice paychecks to make up for it. Does your hospital have a new incentive in place to help with staffing?

[kbrn2002, ADN, RN]

On 1/18/2022 at 8:04 AM, ladedah1 said:

With all the crazy turnover and so few of us left, you'd think there would be some kind of raise for loyalty and dedication.  I've been on the same unit my entire career... covid or no covid.  I just roll with whatever comes my way.  I'm pretty sure that if I get the same ol' standard raise this year, I will be beyond offended.

This exactly! I don't begrudge those that are able to take advantage of big bonuses and extra money for picking up shifts but it's kind of a slap in the face to the regular staff that just show up every day and do their job to the best of their ability. 

That kind of thinking is one of the many reasons I left my old job. They started offering bigger and bigger sign-on bonuses and kept jumping up the starting pay to get nurses in the door while not raising current staff's wages to stay in line with what new staff were making. 

I was beyond offended when I found out a new nurse that I was training was making $0.50/hr less than me.  This was a brand new grad, her first nursing job ever and she was making only $0.50/hr less than me and I had been there 25 years!  That was the beginning of the end for me with that job.

 

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

On 1/17/2022 at 7:48 AM, kp2016 said:

I am however very nervous that once Covid is done the new higher staffing rations 1:8 med/surg 1:3 ICU will remain.

Well, you called it, even before this wave of COVID is over. We've had this incentive less than a week and now we're not considered short staffed because people aren't picking up- they're not accepting everyone that offers to pick up!! I heard that people offered to pick up last night and were told we were fully staffed. The four of us in the unit were tripled, the two nurses in our PACU with ICU holds were tripled and one nurse in the step down unit with an ICU assignment was also tripled. So now they just don't want to pay the money, which to me is WAY worse than when we were just short staffed because no one picked up. I know I called the other night to pick up and was told no thanks, even though I've consistently worked 50 hour weeks for over two years. Now that I might be able to cash in a bit, they're "fully staffed". Complete BS. 

Instead, the hospital hired 18 new travelers to start this month. Great, don't invest in your regular staff that are willing to work and finally make some money- pay the travelers of varying competence and interest level that will come for their contract and leave without any potential for long term investment. Great choices management. 

[Wuzzie]

Seriously, this stuff should be put on social media blast. If only the public new what was and has been going on even before Covid.

[Justlikeyou, BSN]

We’re getting $2500 for our 4th shift (must be a weekend night). 
That is the max. It starts at $1500 extra on top of overtime and differentials for weekdays. There’s more to the incentive program but the $1500-$2500 is part of a new incentive program and It’s a bit hard to get these shifts. I feel finally appreciated.
I’m in Utah. 

[Ioreth, BSN, RN]

I'm glad your hospital is giving you a good incentive to pick up extra shifts. My hospital tried something similar, but it was so convoluted and poorly written that few people take advantage of it. Basically, the employee has to commit to working extra shifts 2 weeks in advance and they have no say in what day the extra shifts are scheduled.  It really doesn't help the short staffing due to call-offs at all, which is what we're mostly seeing right now. Also, the pay increase doesn't really amount to much "because we're already getting overtime and the base pay from working more".

My hospital also tried doing a retention bonus this year, but the way they rolled it out was an insult. They offered RNs $15,000 if we sign a 3-year contract. If we leave for any reason, then we have to pay the full $15,000 immediately. The taxes on that money would just be lost, and there was no provisions for leaving due to illness/injury or if the employee or spouse had to move for the military (lots of military in my area). I don't know of anyone who actually took that deal. 

[bitter_betsy, BSN]

They randomly give us extra dollars.  Currently its $30/hr.  Just a few weeks ago I was sent home 3 times in the same month and forced to use my PTO.  I found myself a PRN job and now they are all testy with me about it.  I have been told by nurses that have been there for years, that once school lets out that they will send us home frequently due to low census (Peds ER nurse).... Well if you don't plan on taking care of me for 36 hours per week every week, then I'm going to make sure that I have another job to back me up.  If I can't pick up extra when you need me to because you would rather send me home - sorry - can't help you.  The extra money is great when they do it, but its all about them...

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

2 hours ago, bitter_betsy said:

The extra money is great when they do it, but its all about them...

For sure. We all received an email today about shift cancellation policy because after less than a week they want to limit the pick up shifts. Now that we're willing to work, for the money, they're ready to cancel us- to save the money. Our hospital staffing budget has GOT to be so far under this year given how often we've worked short, it's a joke that they're going to try to cry poverty due to this incentive (that finally worked).