Staffing Survey Sent to Homes

Results Hoped to Spur Plan Development

In an effort to explore ideas to ease the continued short staffing problems in the nursing units at Methodist Medical Center, a survey was sent out to employees of these units late last month. 

The letter was developed jointly by SEIU leadership and management and seeks opinions on staffing issues, ideas on how to incentivize employees to work extra shifts to cover needs, as well as disclosure of other issues causing concern.  The survey also asked participants to rank different nursing models in order of preference that they believe would provide the best nursing care. 

Over the next month, the completed surveys will be reviewed at the Joint Executive Committee ("J.E.C.") meetings, with the Chief Steward, the union's Staff Representative, and MMC's Human Resources Director.  The goal is to gather non-biased information from caregivers about strengths and weaknesses in current staffing, and opinions and attitudes on how best to improve current practice.  "We all want to give excellent care," says Kay Golden, RN Chief Steward.  "It is our hope that the results of this survey will allow us to move forward with the development of a plan that will make excellent care achievable on a consistent basis".  Scott Vititoe, LPN on 4W adds, "it is discouraging to come to work and discover your team is near or at max, then you get a call saying you have to take more patients on top of that.  I hope that by filling out this survey, something can be done, and quickly, to relieve the situation".