The whole situation is ridiculous, pay the staff RNs better, you will retain them and save money in the long run instead of blowing it on contract nurses. But, they clearly arent thinking long term, but looking at their budget for this fiscal quarter or some such BS. On the plus side, if I have no ICU RNs, I cant take admits, the ED is fuxxored, but not a damn thing I can do about it. Ive had to hold my ground and refuse to let any ICU boarders be in the ED as thats a huuuugee liability. I cant get nursing staff to do basic stuff on an admitted pt in the ED when they are just there for a few hours, no way im letting a pt board there. The ED docs prob think im a dick, and I understand it from both perspectives, but no way its safe to have an ICU pt hanging out in an understaffed ED.