Would you take a $3 hr pay decrease for better ratios and working conditions?

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  1. $3 hr pay cut for better working conditions and staffing?

    • 71
      Yes
    • 13
      Maybe
    • 18
      No
    • 3
      Other, please explain

105 members have participated

Specializes in ER.

I'm really curious, would you take a cut in pay in exchange for excellent nurse/patient ratios, ensure adequate staffing, a float nurse to always cover breaks, and a safer healthcare delivery environment?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

In a heartbeat....

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Specializes in Long term care.

What is your current ratio and what is the facility you would take the pay cut? I probably would :) good luck

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Specializes in LTC, med/surg, hospice.

No. I don't think that is a fair trade. A paycut to do the same job. A paycut to get proper working conditions versus subpar? No thank you.

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Specializes in Inpatient Oncology/Public Health.

Why can't I have adequate compensation AND all those things? Million dollar question...

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If this is a for-profit facility I would have to ask if management would also be taking a comparable pay cut Or would the sacrifice fall solely on the direct care staff while the Executive Director chuckled as they drive off in their Mercedes?

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I think this depends on what state you live in.

If im in California or NY (where I am) absolutely I would in a heartbeat.

Whats 3$ an hour when youre making 40-50/hr

If im down south, midwest etc where im making 20/25 an hour then thers no way in the world id consider it.

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If this is a for-profit facility I would have to ask if management would also be taking a comparable pay cut Or would the sacrifice fall solely on the direct care staff while the Executive Director chuckled as they drive off in their Mercedes?

How would this be any different if it was a not for profit facility?

Theres plenty of people making 250k++++ in non for profit hospitals.

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My initial instinct is yes, but what's preventing management from slowly inching back to the (sub) standard conditions?

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

I've been saying this for years.

Actually, in my current department, I find the ratios are generally well-balanced (I know, crazy). When I worked in med/surg/tele, they were out of control. I would have absolutely have taken a pay cut there for more reasonable assignments. I just would never trust the hospital to stick to such an agreement. Well, they would really want to, but when things went bad, of course they would cave and raise the ratios again; "Sorry, we called everyone. . .".

How about this instead. . .

Per patient hourly rate. It would have to be graded according to patient acuity. In my NICU, we generally classify infants into 3 acuity levels. There would probably need to be a fourth to make this work (to cover for the one-on-one patients).

Add up the levels of your patients to get your hourly rate:

Level one: $12/hr

Level two: $18/hr

Level three: $24/hr

Level four: $36/hr

You get assigned 3 level one infants: $36/hr. You get 2 level ones and one level two: $42/hr. You get two level 3s: $48/hr.

If I showed up and I had two level one infants (pretty light assignment); I wouldn't feel guilty. Especially since when they ask me to admit an infant (All infants would be level 3 for at least the first 6 hours since admission); I would be assured that now my hourly rate just went from $24/hr to $48/hr.

Fee for service people. Nurses deserve better than being included in the room rate.

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It is quite unfortunate that we would have to.

It is equally unfortunate that it is an either/or.

There once was a time that a facility would pay a nurse $3 more an hour to keep them, especially the nurses who were there for a long time. And not many worried about staffing/meal breaks/ratios.

Nurses deserve more than to have to take a pay cut to be able to work in a safe work enviroment, and to take care of patients safely.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Studies clearly show the link between adequate staffing ratios and better patient outcomes. Therefore pay cut for better ratios = pay cut for doing my job at the peak of my ability. Show me any other medical profession where this would be acceptable. So no....I would not accept a pay cut for better ratios and the potential for it even to come into the light as a possibility almost infuriates me. I will be happy to continue giving the hospital the very best of my ability at the same rate or better as I am now, as it goes without saying that the best of my ability will be far more effective when given a reasonable work load. It won't make the job EASIER...it will make my skills, talents and abilities more visible and more effective, not because I am now less burdened but because I have been given optimal work conditions. I still bring the same skill set, knowledge and abilities to the table. I am not less because of fewer patients. If anything I am more.

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