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The children’s hospital in Zurich (Kispi) lacks nurses. Former employees are to return via recruiters.
Anastasia MamonovaEditor News
The nursing shortage in Switzerland is coming to a head. In order to close the staff gap, the Zurich Children’s Hospital (Kispi) resorts to unusual methods.
Blick research shows that Kispi sends emails to former nursing staff to get them back on board. The ex-employees are to become part of an external pool that is being set up “to reinforce shifts or to use failed staff”. This is in a letter that Blick has. The whole procedure would be handled by a recruitment agency.
The RS virus and staff shortages are affecting the Kispi
Kispi CEO Georg Schäppi (55) confirms to Blick: “We are desperately looking for specialists who could help us. That’s why we work with recruitment agencies.” Because sometimes not all beds can be occupied because there are no nursing professionals. The main goal is also to relieve your own employees.
In addition to the acute shortage of skilled workers, which many hospitals are generally struggling with, it is particularly difficult in Kispi because more and more employees are absent due to illness and the RS virus is currently so acute. “An insane wave broke over us. The situation is very challenging,” says Schäppi.
16 francs more hourly wage
Because recruitment for permanent employees is apparently difficult, former nurses should help as jumpers. According to Schäppi, around a dozen people have been wanted since the fall. «Some former employees followed our call. We’re very happy about that.”
Alumni are lured with attractive conditions. The carers can decide for themselves when and how much they want to work – and whether they want to take on early, late or night shifts. “We advertise the required shifts and you decide how often and on which shifts you come to us,” says the e-mail.
In addition, there is a very attractive hourly wage. Those who bring a diploma as a nursing specialist HF or FH will be compensated with 53 francs per hour. For comparison: A former nurse with the same training had received around 37 francs during her time as a permanent employee.
Anyone who has a postgraduate degree from the HF in emergency care, intensive care or anesthesia even gets 60 francs in the external pool. Anyone who has not worked at Kispi for a long time can count on five paid working days as an introduction.
“Permanent employment also brings advantages”
Doesn’t the wage difference create tension? Schäppi says: “We try to keep it as fair as possible.” For example, if someone works a part-time rate of 60 percent, they can register for extra shifts via another pool, which is rewarded with a surcharge.
Schäppi also tries to show his employees in discussions that money isn’t everything. “A permanent position brings advantages such as job security or integration into the team.” And he emphasizes: “The variants of recruitment agencies are also expensive for us, but they arose out of necessity.” The Kispi CEO does not believe that permanent employees would suddenly quit their job and then be hired through a recruitment agency.
Parents should support
Although the recruiter solution brings initial relief, the situation remains tense. Nursing staff are in high demand, especially in a children’s hospital. “Unlike adults, children cannot simply be left alone, they need much more care.”
For this reason, the Kispi also asks the parents of the little patients for help. “We have launched an appeal in which we state that we are happy to have as much support as possible.”
Change diapers and read
However, the parents should not take on medical tasks. It’s about everyday things like changing diapers or reading a book, explains Schäppi. However, working parents do not have to worry that their child will not be cared for.
“If it is not possible for the parents to stay in the hospital, then of course we take care of the children in all respects,” says Schäppi. Because fortunately the Kispi gets support from volunteers. These would then take over “grandparents’ tasks” free of charge.
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