Appalling "solution" to nursing shortage

[OakLeaf]

The thing that Americans need to remember about that story (which didn't immediately pop into my head) is that even though the Czech Republic no longer has single-payer, there is still a clear distinction there and in the rest of the developed world between medically necessary and non-medically necessary surgery. If this were in the USA - IOW, if the hospital were offering employees free breast augmentation while at the same time turning away patients who couldn't afford cancer surgery or angioplasty - that would be a very different situation, IMO.

[Chicken Little]

I'm a nurse.
There is no boob job in the world that will help you when somebody is throwing up on you, pooping on your shoe, or so drunk they are trying to kick you in the head.

[Jolt]

I'm a nurse.
There is no boob job in the world that will help you when somebody is throwing up on you, pooping on your shoe, or so drunk they are trying to kick you in the head.

Funny, and so true! I'm a nurse as well.

[tctrek]

I don't know.. I actually think they looked for the perks that would work to get them to their goal of more nurses. I don't think the perks were directed at making nurses look better, rather that they probably did some research and figured out that the plastic surgery perks were the ones that they would be the most successful at getting the nurses to buy-in. I'm sure they used other enticements in the past (ie: benefits, parking spots, clothing allowances) that didn't get the desired result.

[PamNY]

I used to be moralistic about this sort of thing but I got over it. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of cosmetic surgery, but we humans have been altering our physical appearances one way or another throughout history. That's just the way we are.

Pam

[Aquila]

I wonder if the "markup" on cosmetic surgery is really high, compared to the actual cost? (What I mean is, say it costs $100 to do it, but you usually charge $500. Totally made up numbers, as you can probably tell.) If so, it's probably a way cheaper alternative than something where they'd have to pay "retail" for another benefit. They can say, look, here's a $500. benefit, but the actual cost to them is only $100.

Besides, if it's a place that does much cosmetic surgery, then they probably do want to normalize such surgery and make it seem as commonplace and necessary as possible.

My workplace could offer me a free bike cleaning with more success, though.

[Mr. Bloom]

Aquila: I do believe your perspective may offer some insight into the motivation from the employer perspective.

Overall, I think we'll all agree that there are very strange consequences of this policy/program:
- an influence of "appearance" on perceived quality of care
- a need to staff the cosmetic surgery procedures further exacerabating the staffing problem

But, at the risk of creating a tangent, it's kind of like the "Wal Mart Debate"...does "Wal Mart" put local grocers out of business? No, it's the people who demand what Walmart offers...who then stop shopping at the local stores.

IMHO, It's the same here: if there's fault, it's not in the "offering" (by the providers), it's in the "wanting" (by the consumers who represent a potential employment pool). But, on sum, I'm not appalled unless it affects the availability and quality of care.

[Jolt]

I don't know.. I actually think they looked for the perks that would work to get them to their goal of more nurses. I don't think the perks were directed at making nurses look better, rather that they probably did some research and figured out that the plastic surgery perks were the ones that they would be the most successful at getting the nurses to buy-in. I'm sure they used other enticements in the past (ie: benefits, parking spots, clothing allowances) that didn't get the desired result.

That's a good point; they wouldn't have offered it if they didn't think it was going to get them more nurses! It's just sad that this kind of thing works better than the more practical incentives IMHO.