Why Does Administrators Refuse to Give Hard Working Nurses A Raise?

[FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I]

I have a friend who works in our local hospital, and she told me today about the administration is funding some more upgrades. Granted, some new equipment is definitely needed for the cancer patients, but there are already upgrades that aren't even finished yet and now they are spending 20 million more dollars for things like a parking garage, etc. that isn't really necessary yet. There is ample parking space in back and to the side of the building. (This upgrade was announced on our local TV just last night.

The nursing staff believes this is happening so the hospital that makes about a 30 million dollar annual profit is avoiding increasing the nursing staff wages, So the nurses union, with several nurses are going to the state capital to fight it. I don't blame them one bit. Numerous times they are understaffed and take a lot of abuse from families of patients, some patients themselves, and even managers. I really feel bad for them. Why oh why add to their already stressful career. No wonder some of them are changing their minds and seeking other careers.

Now we all know the cost of living keeps increasing (sometimes daily) in fact the people on Social Security didn't even get a raise at all this year so I really understand it.

[SimonJester]

This issue isnt specific to nursing, you see it in any career field. Basically it all boils down to what they think will make the company money. A new parking garage, new equipment in the cancer wing, etc bring in people to the hospital. Higher nursing wages, well the public doesn't see that. Its all about competitiveness in the market place. Once nurses start leaving to go elsewhere they will have to raise their pay, however there is probably still many many nurses leaving the college nursing programs needing a job each year so they do not feel they need to raise pay.