There’s been a whole lot of nurses going on strike lately in the news. California Kaiser’s nurses announcing their strike last month sparked the movement. Then, nurses from the University of Chicago announcing theirs just a couple days ago. It all basically comes down to nurses banding together sick and tired of certain problems. These problems include sick leave, benefits, and other labor disputes. This puts everyone in a sticky situation. On one side, some of your peers are putting a collective foot down because of how they’re treated. On the other hand, those same nurses are opening up stellar job opportunities for others. Below we’ll take a look a strike nursing jobs and how you can navigate them properly.
What are Strike Nursing Jobs?
When a strike occurs, it’s usually because the current staff of nurses is unhappy with the working conditions or the pay. This will often bring an entire practice to a screeching halt and can negatively affect thousands of people. Strike nurse jobs were created to ensure that there are replacements for the nurses that go on strike. A lot of times, due to the urgency of filling positions in healthcare facilities during strikes, nurses who volunteer to nurse strikes jobs are given some pretty sweet perks. For instance, some RNs get offered large base rates because of the demand for replacements. And, because strikes are so sudden, facilities are ill-prepared for restaffing per diem employees. Strike nurses usually get their information much faster.
But, what happens when nurses strike?
When nurses strike, it can cause devastation. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, during strikes, in-hospital mortality rates of patients rise nearly 20%! Plus, admissions to hospitals reportedly also increase by about 6.5% during the time of strikes.
When it comes to strikes causing potential losses of productivity, something must be done. Being short-staffed in the healthcare industry isn’t just inconvenient…it’s deadly. From the high rise of these strikes, rising from 670,000 to over a million from 1990 to 2008, there became a new industry–strike nursing companies. These companies started in order to help alleviate some of this desperate need for strike nursing jobs in the U.S. Their sole mission is to help short-staffed hospitals hire skilled RNs to step in during their desperate times.
Nursing strikes aren’t just a health concern for the public and the patients who may not be able to get cared for, but it’s also a huge hit for the business aspect as well. No matter how many employees a hospital has, there’s going to be consistent numbers of patients always coming in. So they can’t very well lose productivity (and profit) from being staffed sufficiently enough to provide proper care. During this process, they risk losing time to help patients and lawsuits as well. However, strike nursing jobs can help fill this role within the company.
Strike Nursing Jobs: Things to Consider
Before you can set off on your new strike nursing job, there are numerous things that you should consider.
The licensure: You need to keep in mind that your current nursing license might not cover the state you want to travel to. If this is the case, you’ll need to get the appropriate license before you are able to work in that state. There are many types of licensing including compact licenses. These are very common and can really help you find a job easier.
Safety: Although we certainly hope that you won’t have to worry about safety, there’s no denying that you’ll be working in a stressful environment. After all, you will replace people who are no longer making money and are certainly upset with the practice. Luckily, the practice should provide a secure entrance that is away from the picket line and in many cases will even provide transportation to and from the building.
Accommodations: You also need to realize that you will often be rooming with another travel nurse and you won’t be able to bring your family with you. Strike nurses often take these assignments on short notice. You need to pack quickly and head to your new destination.
Perks of nursing strike jobs:
- The money is a huge incentive. Strike nursing companies have no choice but to pay top dollar for strike nurses because of the urgency and demand to fill positions.
- Getting the experience and learning how hospitals may work differently in other regions or states is critical. It can help nurses gain valuable knowledge that most other health professionals don’t get.
- It’s great for people who want to travel but want to on short notice.
- It lends a plethora of intrinsic rewards being able to know you are helping a hospital and it’s patients during a time of crisis.
Although all nurses value the profession, some feel that it is wrong to “wear the scrubs of a scab.” Scab is a term for a member of a nursing union. However, striking nurses aren’t undermining their fellow RNs. They simply are stepping in and temporarily performing duties that have to get done–no matter what! Hospitals always need to be fully-staffed and when there aren’t people there to treat the sick and injured, then our system is flawed.
Travel Nurse Source is proud to help strike nursing companies gain strike nurses to the American facilities that are in need of desperate need of your talents.
Have you ever taken a strike nursing job? Let us know down below, and don’t forget to check out our travel nursing jobs available!
