Working RNs and the CNA are to blame for new graduate RN program shortages .

wooh, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2012

the words by the chief of staff lit a fire within me and the situation us new grads find ourselves facing can be really trying at times.

Understandably frustrating for you, but that's no reason to believe every stupid thing someone says to you.

Ask the Chief of Staff why is his own salary and financial perks package so high? Or those of non-nursing management personnel.
I will bet you ALL the upper management staff are over-paid for what they do, get their salaries and how much their retirement package is worth.

Exactly.

could retire but i like having nice stuff (her car payment alone is 600 plus every month) and the other nurse already has one home and just purchased a condo.

So why is it the NURSE that likes nice stuff that's keeping you from getting a job? I guarantee that Chief of Staff also likes nice stuff. If he took a bit of a pay cut, or retired, there's more money for new grads. A lot more than if you force a few old nurses to retire. At least under the logic you and this Chief of Staff are putting forth.

Fiona59 · Jun 16, 2012

I understand how frustrating it is for the OP.

I personally know four RNs who have "retired" and are collecting their pensions and have come back to work as "casuals". Their rate of pay is $42/hour. They work three shifts a week on the lightest units in the hospital. One says she works to pay for their vacations (Europe and S. Pacific each year). One bought a house in Arizona and is providing her children with cash for their downpaymentsl. A third claims it is for the "social" aspect.

This wouldn't be bad if they pulled their weight but they don't. It's a very fast paced unit with regular staff picking up the slack these nurses don't. They only do the parts of the jobs they "enjoy", leaving the bulk of the work for the regular staff. They only pick up dayshifts M-F, so they really aren't doing anything to help with the shift short staffing because the evenings, weekends and nights are still understaffed. They don't work much during our snowy season, they don't work the M or F before a long weekend. They are bestest friends with the Unit Manager.

It's the old girl network run amok.

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2012

I have to admit, I am laughing a little bit at the CNA being included in the title. CNAs make a paltry pittance for the heavy work they perform.

CNA stands for California Nurses Association in this case. It's the union that speaks for nurses in California.

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morte, LPN, LVN · Jun 16, 2012

I am thinking that refers to the California Nurses Association, not certified nursing assistant....

I have to admit, I am laughing a little bit at the CNA being included in the title. CNAs make a paltry pittance for the heavy work they perform.

BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN · Jun 16, 2012

You know, I see a lot of bellyaching about the salaries of hospital administration on this site, and I find it irritating. It is simply a great deal more difficult to be a hospital CEO than it is to be a nurse. Even among MBAs and those with Master's in HCA, very, very few of them get to that level. In health care, as in everything else, the cream rises to the top. The fact of the matter is their job cannot be done by just anyone, while just about anyone can be a nurse these days. The antiestablishment attitude is really unbecoming and demonstrates a sad lack of understanding of the depth and complexity of leadership and health care management, IMO.

As for new nurses who hold the same opinion as that expressed by the administrator in the OP, I say: "meh. The way things are is the way things are. Tough tooties. You aren't entitled to jack, and neither am I. I just got here first, and that is they way things are. Get over it."

Artistyc1 · Jun 16, 2012

I am a new grad. A chief of staff of a major northern California health system told me, "RNs and their high salaries made new graduate programs cost prohibitive." I work in a hospital . And work with a few people who could retire. but they've opted to continue working, buying property, cars, while i work every day, rent a room in a house , wishing i had the same opportunities they were given as a new grad. The high paid bay area RN just isnt sustainable to the future of nursing.

It is NOT their responsibility to retire on your timetable. Don't forget, they worked through pretty lean times in nursing, as well. Pay for the RN has been historically very LOW, until the fairly recent past! You don't know what their retirements look like, either. Will you begrudge them rebuilding a nest egg, when the crash of 2008 took so much of so many retirements? Many hospitals don't offer very good retirement plans, it is up to the individual to provide for their own retirements.

Due to desire of many private, for profit hospitals, as well, they will cut anything for the sake of their bottom lines. It is much easier to just blame the greedy, self serving nurses.

interleukin · Jun 16, 2012

"As for those overpaid nurses, I can assure you that CEO probably makes triple of what a senior nurse makes."

Are you kidding....the CEO in my place makes approximately 20 times what the most senior FT nurse makes.

And there is no justifiable rationale for that discrepancy considering what nurses daily contribute and risk.

Nurses make the CEO look good and yet he is far removed from our efforts...actually viewing us as financial burdens rather than key contributors to overall success.

OCNRN63, RN · Jun 16, 2012

I am a new grad. A chief of staff of a major northern California health system told me, "RNs and their high salaries made new graduate programs cost prohibitive." I work in a hospital . And work with a few people who could retire. but they've opted to continue working, buying property, cars, while i work every day, rent a room in a house , wishing i had the same opportunities they were given as a new grad. The high paid bay area RN just isnt sustainable to the future of nursing.

So the older nurses should just step aside to let younger nurses have their jobs? Will you be willing to do the same when you're older?

chevyv, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2012

I'm wondering why you took the word of the Chief of Staff? It's never that easy and blaming the older nurses is foolish. Without those older nurses, who would train us even after orientation? I can ask any nurse that's been there for 20+ years a policy question and they have it. They are invaluable and many times management kicks them to the curb and highers us newbies who run around like a bunch of chickens. I'm willing to bet that Chief of Staff loves his little toys which are probably much more than that seasoned nurse who should just crawl under a rock and go away so you can get a job. Just remember, you will be one of those older nurses someday and there will be a newbie wishing you the very same thing so plan for your retirement well and leave so that newbie can have your job.

morte, LPN, LVN · Jun 16, 2012

I am thinking this was an anti union rant on the part of the CEO, with him taking advantage of practicing a little "divide and conquer" as well.....

sauconyrunner · Jun 16, 2012

I think this is just an oversimplification. Without older nurses - you would really be lost. In addition, if, say they were all to suddenly retire, I can assure you that the Nurse Managers would be looking primarily to replace them with an experienced RN. Why? Well, any good manager will tell you the key to success for New Grads and a floor is to have a mix of experience. All New Grads is a recipe for disaster. All older nurses sounds great, but generally, having newer nurses in the mix introduces new ideas and enthusiasm. While we sometimes grouse about New Grads, I find that when we get one that wants to learn, rather than one that arrives knowing everything...we really like working with them.

You probably also should not take financial statements to heart. Money is a particularly touchy subject and people tend to lie and tell a lot of mistruths. It is pretty crass to share how much you pay on your car or house or anything for that matter, actually I find it sort of disgusting, but I come from a culture that values simplicity.

You may very well have the same opportunities they had as a new grad...there is a cyclic nature to the nursing shortage.

Oh and a plug for teachers. My sister is one. She has had to call the police multiple times for students with weapons, it's not the same as Nursing, but they do definitely have their moments.

JZ_RN · Jun 16, 2012

RNS may make more than a teacher, but we also are exposed to possibly deadly diseases, very sick patients, possibly injuring ourselves lifting patients, angry families and violence, work every holiday, every weekend, nights, all summer, mornings, 12 hour shifts with no sleep It is not the high cost of RN salaries, we are worth our weights in gold and then some, so that is a line of garbage. We deserve more than what we're paid in my opinion. And The fact that the hospital makes millions in profit and the CEO and CFO make much more than me show me the lies in that little comment.

The fact is that corporate/hospital/company greed is what keeps them from hiring enough staff, or hiring new grads, or having new grad programs, that is it.