What is your opinion on "For Profit Hospitals"

[Little Panda RN]

I was just wondering what everyones opinion is of for profit hospitals. For those of you who work for a for profit hospital, do you like it and what does your hospital do with all its profits. Do they invest in the community and help the underinsured and those without insurance or do they divert them to a not for profit hospital for medical treatment.

The reason I am asking is that there is a big debate in my community going on about for profit hospitals. There are a group of physicians requesting a tax abatement to build a for profit hospital and the not for profit hospital is in an uproar. Needless to say the debate has been quite interesting.

Your thoughts and opinions welcomed!

[Brewer,RN]

I always see people saying that for-profit = hell and non-profit = heaven. I've worked at a non-profit and for-profit health care facilities in the last 5 years, and I've been at a for-profit that had the same problems that everyone complains of about non-profit. Pay freezes, low wages, old equipment, under-staffing, high turnover rate, etc. It depends on each facility. There are good and bad in both. So unless you are planning on working in the business/executive team aspect of the hospital, it shouldn't really matter to you as a nurse in the end what happens to the money. Though I do wonder that if I worked for a public for-profit place like HCA and bought stock in them, would I be more motivated to work harder since I was a partial owner of the company?

[GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN]

though i do wonder that if i worked for a public for-profit place like hca and bought stock in them, would i be more motivated to work harder since i was a partial owner of the company?

having experienced both sides of the coin i truly don't see much difference for those that don't have any investment within the given facility. following this further, when i worked at a profit facility i did see my share of "bonuses" being in the upper management position. undoubtedly, you have raised a question worthy of research if one's willing and motivated enough to follow through

[Nurse_Wretched]

I worked for a for profit LTC just after graduation... The care was sub-standard at best but I loved my job there! The patients were a unique bunch of folks. We had everything...drug addicts, prostitutes, young disabled folks, elderly patients, severely mentally ill patients, etc... We'd see a story on the news and that person would get wheeled into one of our units several weeks later! LOL I miss that crazy place. I miss the staff, the patients, the entertainment...

[Nurse_Wretched]

Mostly, though, I have worked for non-profits... And it hasn't always been heaven! Trust me on this one! Some of them constantly understaff and blame the nurses for it. I last for 7 months at one facility many years ago. They were supposedly an LTC but the care was far more transitional than anything else. They thought nothing of giving me multiple admits in one shift while I had 22 other patients...many of whom would fall all of the time... Other were tube meds multiple times a shift, some were resistant to care... They can hire a new grad for that BS. I adored the patients there and I felt bad for them. They were not getting what had been promised to them.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

Your thoughts and opinions welcomed!

My not-for-profit hospital network made over $200 million dollars last year. The CEO makes around $2 million a year.

[Bklyn_RN]

Some things should not have a profit motive. Especially hospitals.

[Nurse_Wretched]

I agree, Bklyn_RN. It's unethical. The for profit hospitals/medical facilities hold the nurses to the highest possible standards while taking the low road themselves... The ironic thing is that any nurse they have deemed as worthy is too good to work for them.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

every hospital in the USA wants to make a profit. The status is just for tax purposes. Not-for-profit will not pay as much tax and raise money thru bonds (very political), but if they make a profit they have to re-invest in the company while keeping some for a cushion. Re-investing can be as simple as giving all the directors a bonus. For-profit raise money thru stock, pay taxes and re-invest any profits. Re-investing can be bonuses here too. Obviously, both can re-invest in equipment, capital improvements, etc but both want to make a profit. If the not-for-profit continues to lose money it will be hard to sell bonds next time capital is needed.

[Brewer,RN]

There's nothing unethical about making money helping people. Hospitals are businesses too. If they don't make a profit, they shut down. Then there's no healthcare for anybody, not to mention millions of health care workers out of a job.