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I don't know if any other nurses have received emails from an agency (which will not be named here) recruiting for nurse specialties for travel assignments in Minnesota. Seems the nurses there are in contract negotiations, but recruiting has been started by outside agencies in the event they go on strike.
What is with this, anyway? Don't we nurses get short-shifted enough when it comes to asking for safer nurse/patient staffing, better overtime management, and fair wage compensation? And when our peers in other states cannot convince their respective employers that these, or other necessary practices, are not being addressed adequately or not at all, and intend to walk out until their requests are paid their due attention, how can we even consider undermining their efforts by stepping into their places? If a hospital is willing to pay through the nose for outside employees, they better take a good hard look at their bottom line and wonder how long they can afford to pay the exorbitant wages being offered by the agencies recruiting this outside help. Their time, money, and attention would be better served by sitting at the negotiation table and working with the staffs they have to create an agreement that will forestall any strike action.
Bonnie Pope has been a registered nurse for over 14 years. She has practiced as a med-surg pediatric nurse, outpatient clinic team leader and educational resource nurse, as well as a clinical nurse consultant. Bonnie is an Army veteran with 10 active years and 3 reserve years as a Preventive Medicine and Environmental Hygiene specialist. Currently, she is the full-time caregiver of a specially-abled young adult. Bonnie has been married for 34 years and has three grown children.
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
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| Nurse Friend (Durham NH) |
on 26 May 2010 at 8:42 am |
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| I was working as a traveler in San Francisco in 1988. The hospital where I was assigned went on strike. My agency asked me if I would stay. I agreed for the "big bucks" and I had two children in college. As I worked, I noted that many of the patients were moved to other hospitals. If some of us hadn't "scabbed", all of them would have been moved and it would have taken time to build up a client base again. (Justification?) When it was over, I left, but some of the nurses who actually worked for the hospital and "scabbed" because they couldn't afford to go on strike were completely ostracized by their peers and were forced to leave under a cloud. Would I do it again? I really don't know, but I don't think so. It's because of loss of respect by the striking nurses. I have had a couple of opportunities, but didn't follow up. |
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| mon cheri' (kentucky) |
on 25 May 2010 at 10:12 am |
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Hello, in response to your article, I am one of the many nurses who was recruited to Minnesota for the strike. I totally understand the nurses' concerns and complaints. For I have lived many of their frustrations in my nursing career. Facilities mandate working per the census -vs- working per acuity. One might question--are they concerned about QUALITY or more concerned about QUANTITY. I believe we all know the answer to that one. And will they protect you in court when you are faced with a wrongful death? Absolutely not. The job market here in Kentucky/Ohio is horrible. We have entirely too many nursing schools for one thing. A nursing shortage? If there was a nursing shortage I would be working now. In my area of the country, employers are now hiring new grads, putting them through 6 week critical care classes and then calling them CRITICAL CARE NURSES. These nurses are running our ICU's. Now isn't that scary. Corporate's strategy to hire new grads cannot continue. One must look at the big picture!
And...will I feel comfortable crossing their picket line in Minnesota? Absolutely not. It is called survival for me and for their patients who need care during this strike. |
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