They just DON'T get it. Sort of like talking Chinese to someone who only understands English; not communicating--not even on the same wavelength. Had a bigwig from a neighboring large hospital call the director of our nursing school, asking us in desperation if we could increase enrollment at our small community college nursing school (ADN). Of course we cannot; do not have the nursing instructors and don't have the facility to do so even IF we had the extra help. This administrator told our director that this HUGE hospital is now short XXX nurses. Well, hello, what about RETENTION???? Why are all your nurses leaving??? This particular institution is losing nurses so fast, that it is like a patient who is hemorrhaging, about to code. The administrators seem oblivious to it all. It brings to mind an old quote (don't remember the source), "There is none so blind as one who is willingly so." That about sums it up. You can tell these people what is wrong with their institution until you are blue in the face... WHY all of their nurses are leaving. They just don't hear you because you are telling them something they just DON'T WANT to hear, plain and simple. It is SO very frustrating. I am convinced that the majority of nursing administration in this hospital is STUCK in an 80's and early 90's mindset and can't adapt or accept the nursing situation as it is NOW, in the year 2002. I am further convinced that the nursing problems at this hospital won't be solved until the current "generation" of nursing managers dies off. By then, sadly, it just may be too late...
Konni - just a thought, what if everyone in your hospital just said NO, then gave their 2 week notices. Bet there would be some sudden solution better that screwing their staff! I don't think you'd really have to leave after all.
Why don't hospitals understand they are shooting themselves in the foot by not making the staff happy? You can't retain staff if you treat them like crap!
I asked my NM about going part time after the holidays and she nearly bit my head off and told me no way and BTW you are rotating to nights after the holidays. I told her that is impossible for me.
She told it was mandatory (I asked about this during my interview and was told there was NO rotating) and if I didn't like it I could leave. Well guess what!!!!
So rather than having me work part time, she would rather not have me at all??? We are short staffed as it is!! On all shifts. And honest to goodness we hired two new grads for DAY SHIFT!!!!
You know Ryan, that's a good idea, but good luck getting everyone together to do it. Several colleagues already do the extra shifts anyway, so it doesn't affect them. Several more will talk a good line but when it comes to actually following through, forget about it. I'm sure if I gave my notice, she'd be sorry to see me go, but not sorry enough to reconsider.
And with all the extra shifts they're suddenly requiring, you'd think we were extremely short-staffed. However, that's not the case; we only have two openings, a full-time and a part-time.
Yep, there is definitely a nursing shortage and the only ones who seem to care are the nurses who are working short! So maybe you have some advice for "us". At my hospital, we are short staffed, so we are "supplemented" with travelers and agency nurses. The agency nurses are from an agency created by our hospital corporation. So get this: the agency nurses are hired at approximately $20.00 more an hour than staff nurses (depending on what regular staff makes). They can preschedule, get shift diff, are guaranteed 24 hours a week, and have all the benefits we do except paid time off. Does anyone else see a problem with this?
Know what they have done for staff retention? If we don't call in sick for six months, they will give us a whole $100.00 bonus! And I am sure that is before taxes! Whoo! Hope they don't hurt themselves!
What is wrong with this picture? What incentive is there to work full time at any of these facilities? Money for the agency nurses comes from our budget. Our lousy paychecks come from the same budget, just from another column. And they expect nurses to bust their butts, work extra, be loyal and committed? Do you really think our staff feels appreciated? Offer me the same benefits and pay as our agency nurses!
This is what we did- we sent a petition to our nursing administration asking for raises, better treatment, more paid holidays (we get 3 a year!) , etc. Nurses from every department in our hospital signed the petition. It was great. They have about 2 weeks left to respond.
So any ideas from anyone? Got any great advise? I am with the nurses in my hospital on this one. I only hope we stick together and continue to stand up for what we know is right! Any advice on dealing with management will be greatly appreciated!
Management doesn't care about a nursing shortage...they don't care if they have a staff of all new grads...less money...less benifits........This is why they don't retain....maybe not as dumb as we think...HUH..........LR
Here's another one I particularly love. Department Heads are given huge quarterly bonuses if they are below budget. The size of the bonus depends on how much money they save the corp. So, the suits get financial incentives to short-staff. And when they act like you're taking money out of THEIR pocket, well, you are.
Tex--sounds as though you have done the initial steps of organizing into a union. See if the Teamsters are interested, as facilities don't seem to pay attention to anyone else.
Good luck.
Youda--exactly right, though most nurses don't seem to understand this and still wonder WHY they are short-staffed or question how they can get management to understand their problems. HA!
Two new grads get day shift??????????????????????????????
I don't know about anyone else, but one of the things I'm seeing with the shortageis that new nurses have this idea that they can just get day shift right off the bat, even though there are loads of experienced nurses waiting for a day shift slot to open up.
Something like this just happened in my dept. Thank heaven our new NM had the brains and foresight to say, "Sorry, you'll have to wait your turn."
The other thing that bugs me with mgmt. is that if you work nights, you're expected to come in on your day off for mandatory meetings. Hey, "off" means, "not here." I would love to call them at 2:00am and say, "Hey, you need to come in here for..."
Management goes to MBA schools. Most CEOs went to the Machievellian School of Corporate Training. Accountants take accounting. Nurses go to nursing school.
Is there ANY doubt why management doesn't understand the problems they cause? As if it would ever happen . . . I think no management in a healthcare setting should be allowed to be there without at least an ADN who has worked bedside nursing for a couple of years, in addition to their other degrees. Dream on!
How can that be???
RyanRN
124 Posts
Konni - just a thought, what if everyone in your hospital just said NO, then gave their 2 week notices. Bet there would be some sudden solution better that screwing their staff! I don't think you'd really have to leave after all.