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Here’s what people on Facebook told our team. Tell us what you think in the comments!
“How can healthcare systems & employers better support their nurses and staff?”
We received some great responses and wanted to share them. We know that nurses and healthcare staff are exasperated and on the edge of burnout. Almost all of the answers demand a higher level of respect for the nursing profession and acknowledgement from those at a senior level of their very important role in healthcare.
Nurses Want to See Leadership Participating in Care
Many people voiced frustrations with not having adequate staff and keeping managers in their relatively ‘non-clinical’ roles.
One user stated:
“Managers need to get out of their ivory tower offices and see what’s really going on! As a traveler, I met a Manager in Kansas who was so involved with her unit, she actually ran the morning community meeting with patients in mental health, checked on us every 2-3 hours, was available anytime we needed her and that was one of my best assignments!! Thanks, Val!”
This shows how the active and involved presence of leadership can change an employee’s perspective on a facility or specific unit, especially during times of high acuity and stress.
Staffing Shortages are a Huge Issue in Healthcare
Nurses not only need more staff to help run the unit, they are asking for resources like ancillary help. Many units have no CNA, or not enough CNAs, and having them around to help can hugely reduce some of the stress nurses are feeling.
Another user points out multiple thing a hospital or unit can do to help retain their staff:
“Nurses need higher pay. Hire additional resources (CNA’s). Give more time off. Offer retention bonuses. Pay for sick leave without penalties. Listen to your staff and quickly put into action what needs to be addressed. Stop giving ridiculous “thank you” items. We don’t want stale/cold pizza. If you offer day shift food, you should have the same decency for the night shift. That’s a good start.”
Bottom Line: Nurses Want Adequate Compensation
We saw many comments about higher pay and the anger about paying travelers exorbitantly high rates. It’s hard for staff nurses to grasp how hospitals can continue to pay travelers almost double the rates for staff nurses, but cannot afford to give their permanent nurses a raise. Many argue that paying perm staff nurses more would entice them to stay, versus leave to go travel or find another job.
This comment was popular:
“Stop giving tons of money to agencies and travelers and pay staff nurses more and offer retention bonuses. You’ll spend less money at the end and have increased retention.”
The Future and Changing the Way Healthcare Hires
We can feel how dissatisfied this community is with the way they are being treated with comments like,
“Listen to us.”
and
“It’s offensive that companies are offering new hires huge sign on bonuses, high hourly wages, and retention incentives, yet they don’t pay their current employees an appropriate hourly wage, give bonuses, give raises, and give incentives. The healthcare community is overworked, underpaid, abused, and under appreciated.”
Nurses are making it perfectly clear that they want a voice in healthcare and they aren’t backing down until they feel appreciated and well compensated. Vivian supports and advocates for healthcare workers and is working hard to help fill the staffing shortages across the country. We want to have a positive impact on the healthcare industry and the way nurses are hired and what is fair compensation.
We always appreciate comments that can help drive this goal!
Thank you to ALL healthcare workers for what you are doing every day, we appreciate your dedication.
