We recently have had a new CEO become a part of our little hospital team, and with him have come a great many changes. Most of these changes I have been excited about and embraced. He appears to be a positive goal oriented individual with the desire to improve our facility to help increase patient satisfaction and revenue.
Apparently, our census has been on a slight decline over the last few years and he has the goal to nip this in the bud and make us the hospital of choice. One of his grand plans is a remodel of the hospital, including a revamping of the entrance and “fung shui” with the addtion of fountains and whole lot of other pretty stuff. I’m all for it. To be honest, there are many parts of the place that do look old and delapidated compared to the shiney newness of the not-for-profit hospital across town. Anything that help improve our reputation to the patients and inspire increased confidence in our care is fantastic to me!
However, upon checking my work email yesterday I saw 2 sentence email stating “Effective January 1st, we will no longer be continuing our retention bonus….” That was followed by some line about the economy and whatnot. And this has my blood boiling. Why? Well I know we turn a profit, our corporation turns a profit, and the bosses sure as heck are getting their bonuses. But, for some reason, they find it prudent to steal from the life’s blood of the hospital. Sure, lets just take away from the people who actually take care of the patients. That makes the MOST sense ever? Right?
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They did it. Now they’ve killed my morale. I know it shouldn’t be about money, and really its not. Its about respect and appreciation for what I do. But, it is about fair compensation and valuing me as employee, nurse, and human being. I’m sure if we asked them they would claim that one has nothing to do with another… No surely when they are sinking millions into renovations they aren’t going to look for ways to cut costs other places… a business, looking for a profit? never… I would never expect them to look for ways to save money. But DON’T take it from me! 
You might as well take the Cheerios right out of my kid’s bowl with this one. No one needs a fountain, but my kid needs to eat.
To heck with a fountain.I need my $2000!
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Twitter: drdeanburke
says:
That was a great bonus! I can see how it would hurt to lose it….. I can’t comment on your hospital’s situation, but I am afraid that this scenario will be more and more common.
But, I bet you can replace that income over time with as much creative thought as you seem to have!
I feel your pain and had a similar type of experience this year with the corporation that I’m employed by. The nursing incentive bonus was changed from being distributed quarterly to yearly and now it’s contingent on some outrageous metric that I have little influence over. At our annual company meeting there was one award given to the nurse of the year (plastic star) while Mercedes leases were awarded to the sales team. I was mortified and that was truly the straw that broke the camel’s back. That told me how much nurses are valued at this organization – not much.
I’m a few months away from my MBA and have also started my own company. I’m just sitting tight for the moment.
Elisha Lowe
http://www.surgicalaftercare.com