Phasing out noc shift differential in acute care?

Soooo...there may or may not be a rumor floating around my hospital that they may try to phase out our night shift differential over several years. Right now, we have one of the higher shift differentials in the area.

Has anyone experienced this in acute care? What happened? It seems like a recipe for disaster although from previous polls on here, I know a lot of you are doing night shift with only a $2-$3 differential.
It is a recipe for disaster....what happened? The plethora of nurses who are unemployed and need jobs.

They phased out weekend pay plans, dropped sign-on bonuses, and are obviously looking for other ways to save money at the nurses' expense.

The hospital system I work for did away with extra pay for working weekend option. No talks of getting rid of shift diff for nights.

I am actually thrilled my current facility offers differentials for off shifts. My first job gave us a whopping $1/hr extra for off shifts. So I don't expect differentials, but instead consider it a nice perk

I think it is a big mistake. The only people who will take those hours will be new grads (no offense), but you need experience nurses to mentor the new grads, and without $$$ I can't see people clamoring for those positions.

I'm sure if they did that, it wouldn't affect the people where I am who work nites. They do it so that don't have to deal with all the mngmt and BS on day shifts.What would really stink is if they changed the ratios.

I see it as a perk, too. Nobody's getting rich off our differential, that's for sure. Unless my shift diff was $5.00 or more an hour, I probably wouldn't miss it.

I have heard about it happening, but haven't experienced it. I prefer night shift workload but I would not stay if the diff went away!

Does that mean that you all will get raises in hourly waages instead?

Quote from jadelpnDoes that mean that you all will get raises in hourly waages instead?

Quote from happyinillinoisI think it is a big mistake. The only people who will take those hours will be new grads (no offense), but you need experience nurses to mentor the new grads, and without $$$ I can't see people clamoring for those positions.

I don't see it as a perk, but a way to encourage people to work those off shifts. If I were to lose my shift diff, I'd be angry and insulted since it would essentially saying my work is crap so I need a pay cut. I'd also be looking for a day position ASAP.