Nurses are putting in more hours at work than at this time last year but expect to return to pre-recession work levels once the economy rebounds, according to a recent survey.
The survey, by San Diego-based healthcare staffing firm AMN Healthcare, involved nurses who visited NurseZone.com and RN.com during May 2009. More than 320 registered nurses responded to the survey, which covered a range of workforce-related questions.
Of the nurses who responded, 47 percent said they are working more overtime, have added a second position or are returning to work full time, while 58 percent indicated they are working more hours than they did a year ago.
The reasons cited include making up for reduced family income due to a spouse's job loss and interest in replenishing retirement funds impacted by last year's stock market decline.
Twenty percent of the respondents said the increased work hours are only temporary, as they plan to return to their previous work schedules as the economy rebounds.
"This survey highlights that the nursing vacancy rate has been positively impacted at least temporarily, as nurses increased their work hours for a variety of reasons," said Marcia Faller, AMN's chief nursing officer. "However, based on our survey, we expect the vacancy rate to inch back up as nurses trim their hours or leave work altogether in parallel with economic recovery."