[LauraRNwv]

Here's the scenario: I have been working as a central resource pool nurse in a large university hospital for the last three years. My pay is based on a points system. I get so many points for the following:
Years I have been a nurse, how many units I am willing to float to, how many hours in a week I will work and what day and shifts I work (weekend nights gets the most, weekday days gets the least).
These points add up to a dollar amount, which is a great rate of pay. Now the facility is changing the points scale and decreasing everyone's points and subsequently, the dollar amount.
My question is, is this legal? Can they do this?
Thanks so much for your input.

[cassioo]

I would guess they

[cassioo]

I would guess they can do whatever they want if there is no union contract involved and they will keep doing those things if people just accept it and keep working for the lower wage but if everyone packs their bags and goes elsewhere they might think it differently.

[nursinghumor]

I agree, unless pay rates and benefits are mandated by a contract, they can be changed at the whim of the hospital administration and bean counters. Depending on how much noise the nurses at your hospital make over this, or how many of them threaten to quit and go elsewhere they may change their mind.

We are in a Nursing Shortage and they'll be smart to remember that if they don't have nursing staff, they'll have to shut down units, accept less patients and generate less revenue which will exacerbate their financial situation.

Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.4nursing.com

[LauraRNwv]

Meetings to discuss these new changes are taking place this week....The more I think about it, the madder I get and the better travel nursing sounds! I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I don't know if I can cover all my bills at the lower rate of pay but I don't want to have to work overtime every week to make up for it. And I thought my days of working two jobs to make ends meet were over! Boy, was I wrong!!! GRRRRR!!!