Pros
They do provide good benefits. Our insurance through Web TPA really gives us enough coverage at a great price when comparable to other jobs. I know for a fact that my health insurance provides better coverage and for a lower price than friends of mine working for other types of companies and institutions.. Also, PTO is great, and there is a chance for rarely increases in PTO hours based on experience and employment loyalty over time. For instance, I currently receive 6 PTO hours for every 40 hours worked. However, I have only worked at Lee Health (LMH) for 2 years. If I have worked for 5 years, or 10, or more, that rate of 6 PTO hours / 40 hours worked increases. I just can't provide details as to how much of an increase that is currently.
Cons
I would assume that my complaints for this hospital would fall in line with the average complaints of any hospital in the US. Although I do earn a bit over 61,000 / year with my current pay, It is still only barely enough to cover expenses of rent and other monthly needs here in SW Florida. For a 1 bedroom / 1 bath apartment, plus my car insurance, student loan monthly payments, and other living expense needs in 1 month's time, I am basically breaking even with the current cost of living. Secondly, the biggest issue I have is the amount of repetitive and meticulous documentation requirements that have increased more and more as I have worked here. I work on a progressive care unit and it seems as though the institution expects us to have real-time documentation for every action and implementation, regardless of the patient assignment workload. There are some nights where I am taking 6 patients for a 12 hour shift (I work nights) and many times the documentation will not get done until the second half of the shift because of my patient demands. If I end up sending a patient to the unit (ICU), whether from a MET call or ICU transfer, most likely that patient took up at least a third of my shift. And depending on the assignment for that shift, I could have 5 other patients with needs. I understand that real-time accurate documentation is necessary, but it seems as though nursing practice today implements importance of more defense documentation for legal purposes rather than importance of ethical patient care. Institutions have become more concerned about the court of law and thereby may be compromising the ethics of patient care. As I tell my own patients and colleagues, it's like taking care of the real patient, while also trying to take care of the virtual patient (EHR). Which is more important to you?
