10 Percent...3/6

The original post came out on 1/16/07. The meeting with directors/supervisors was the 12th of Feb, with the RIF (reduction in force) news distributed to the personnel on lucky 13th. It goes in two phases: Voluntary--with severence, and involuntary. So you can do it to yourself, or have it done to you.

I'll make the next prediction: That new grads will be hired to replace those RIF'ed out at lower wages. These people are obvious....frank

Rumors fly, and 10% seems to be the most consistant number quoted for cuts in personnel. But we already have taken cuts, and service has suffered because of it.

Floggings will continue until morale improves. How short-sighted can we be? Apparently far more. Essent has implemented cuts at Merrimack Valley Hospital, and it doesn't seem to help in the long run...but then I forgot: Essent works in quarters! Longterm is not their middle name! So, if this next quarter is fine, but the ER will be short of nurses again during the peak months, but low census, tough Wendell! But Dick gets his bonus!

Right now would be the time to have the staff get up to speed, since attrition will take its toll. As it already has with the people that dropped their notice right before the holidays. There are around 35 nursing spots open--a couple haven't made it to the list. Merry Christmas, Cheryl!

These aren't just the run-of-the-mill positions, either. 2-surgical, 7-CCU, 11-ICU, including a clinical supervisor. And you wondered why all the agency nurses were here?

So, as a patient, I can expect to have completely trained personnel caring for me? Yeah... R-i-i-g-h-t! And there's a reason that I want to come here, rather than go to Dallas? Well, if proximity counts over keeping dear old dad alive, I suppose it's better than having to take off to drive to see him...let's see, with all the gas I save, I can have a heck of a furneral.

And maybe those last 10%, you know, the ones left from the original staff...maybe they can attend as well!