Although this is the beginning of the busy season at my hospital, it has reached a plateau; the reason may be we are fully staffed, or the flu season hasn't hit yet. The buzz word from hospital administration is "flex down" and "over budget". Word is that the hospital wants to freeze overtime, while trying to retain nurses by giving out bonuses.
Around this time last year, we lost 100 nurses from the budget cuts that an outside consulting agency "suggested" to the hospital, along with middle management pushing experienced nurses out, many who were mentors and had a good reputation and good years of service. With the union in place, these practices have ceased; and if they need to do a layoff, they must ask the union first.
The irony of it all is that my facility makes money, we usually make above revenue projections, but because we are controlled by a organization that owns other hospitals, this affects our growth; however since this corporation is known to suppress labor in favor of paying their executives top dollar.
The silver lining in this is the push for safe staffing in my area; doing a movement while pushing for the best for our patients. To be a part of this and utilize my education from my nursing leadership class about FTEs (full time equivalent), skill mix, and budgetary discretion, is a valuable skill set to have.
What I have learned this week:
-That I have the tenacity to continue my quest to have some adult ED experience; I have been passed over some contact per diem positions because of this lack of experience, but I hope to make an impression on a few of the smaller local hospitals or even a Urgent Care Center-wish me luck!
-My educational calendar has suddenly become more busy; from learning to be a preceptor to studying for the ENPC (Emergency Pediatric Nurse Course) TNCC (Trauma Nurse Core Course) and planning to take the ATCN (Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses), and even pending education for sexual assault and physical assault-not to mention being an educator for the trauma room and being mentored to be an asset for the trauma program-I hope I can balance it all.
-Going to the media about unsafe staffing is very liberating; to express how complex our job is and how we worry about giving great care can shift the "blame" from the nurse and gets the community informed and increases support.
-An increase of return of old faces that are experienced, and helped me shape the nurse that I am and faces that disappeared before I came that have great insight makes for a great team, even with challenging times.
-That I am looking forward to to Emergency Nurses week. I missed the whole week last year due to me being in London for a much needed holiday, and may miss it next year, and to actually pick up overtime on that week and get fed and thanked and have such an increase in morale makes it a little easier to have to miss a vacation this year.
Here's the tenacity that I and local nurses are involved in:
