Customer service is lacking

Like many businesses today, health care institutions often lack in quality customer service. Now I know a lot of nurses will feel upset with health care being referred to as a business, but if they would open their eyes, and pick up the dictionary, it would become obvious that indeed it is a business.

Health care agencies, hospitals, etc provide a service that others need and are willing to pay for. That is a basic definition of business, and we do pay for it, either through taxes or privately.

But on to the point of lack of customer service. A health care agencies' customers are not only those seeking care but also those who work for the company. Otherwise known as employees. Though most businesses try sincerely to offer great customer service to the consumer (apart from what a shortage of professionals can not cover) health care businesses often lack in caring for the employees on a similar footing. So a shortage of nurses leaves businesses scrambling with a new notion of,

"gee, maybe we need to offer nurses special incentives and bonuses".

Those that are smart enough to realize we like to be treated with respect too, will find it easier (and ARE finding it so) to fill in the staffing gaps. To the general public it looks as though nurses are greedy and I guess I can understand why. Yet perhaps if we tried harder to help these people recognize what nursing really entails they might then also agree we deserve certain "perks".

The problem I see is that nurses are terrible at speaking, or speaking out, for the general population to hear (of course, California nurses are progressing nicely in letting their opinions and circumstances be known lately). Too much of what I am reading is simply geared toward, and read by, only other professionals.

My opinion is simple, speak and be sure you are heard or you will simply cease to be of any importance to the world, or atleast continue to go unrecognized in their minds.

The lure of career fairs

I couldn't resist but to attend a recent career fair in Toronto this weekend. It was a whirlwind 3 day affair for reps from hospitals across the USA and Canada. Actually, now that I think about it, there were very few from hospitals in Canada; mainly Ontario, BC and Calgary. Of course there were prizes and free give-aways and it was a little embarassing to watch participants crowd the tables trying to get their share. I did walk away with a door prize (a pen) and I did pick up a water bottle, but my main focus was obtaining information from the exhibitors, not checking out the "goodies" available. Maybe that's my age showing.
Before the fair opened they held a half hour information/question-answer session in an adjoining meeting room. What came across clearly was that many health facilities were expanding and needed more nurses to staff the facilities. my question again would be,
"and where do you expect to find these nurses?"
I remember only 1 educational institution in attendance in Toronto. I must say I did not pay real close attention as I was focusing on California hospitals that were willing to take an old nurse like me (I'm 45 with 20 years almost full time experience) and update. I have been running into situations of "you're not qualified", and very few (actually only 1) interview opportunities. Monies are getting tight. Supposedly several hospitals are very interested in me, siting I am indeed NOT out of date. We'll see what the next couple of weeks in followup calls and emails bring.
Oh, back to my main point...one of the hospital reps from California was saying she needed to hire 80 to 100 nurses each month for the next several months (I think 8) in order to properly fill their vacancies. Now, there were some new grad RN's and soon to graduate students at the fair the day I attended. But there were also many other professionals, LVN's, CNA, Medical Laboratory Technologists, looking for work opportunities. I wonder if she will actually find the numbers she is seeking? How many months will be needed "on the road" attending career fairs?