Dorothy

Tuesday, 13 July 2010

As hospitals run on business models, albeit unsuccessfully, why don’t nurses get paid accordingly for the number of patients they care for each shift. When I became a post graduate six years ago four patients were the norm for day shift now it has crept up to five sometimes six patients. Five patients to care for should attract an increased penalty rate of 30% per hour, six – 60%. Most employees these days are awarded & rewarded for work over and above the call of duty, what about nurses? Many nurses have undertaken tertiary studies to benefit the health industry resulting in minimal gain and exorbitant university fees. Can’t the health industry seek to embrace those businesses, whether they are health based or not, and query high staff retention rates? In six years I have experienced one hospital who had an extremely high retention rate & much of it had to do with the culture of support and care of staff.