salary floor nurse?

my nursing home is rolling out a new policy in the next few months. We will switch from 8hr mon-fri and 12hr weekenders to all 12hr shifts. 2 nurses will partner in one unit for each shift (7a-7p and 7p-7a) and 'self' schedule however they want as long as the unit is covered all week. We shall stop being hourly and become salaried with a 4hr allowance for OT. (this is based on that each nurse should end up doing 36hr one week, and 48 the next. Has anyone gone through this? How did it work out for you? what issues can we look forward to?
never have and i'd never work as a staff nurse on salary. too much variation in the possibility to staying over. salary sucks unless you're working short days all the time

The "salary" part of that would worry me greatly.

sounds like they are trying to cut costs.................at our ltc facility, the nurses work m, t, f, sat & sun of one week then the next week they work w & thurs - this allows for 20 hrs ot in every paycheck. they work 7a-7p or 7p-7a. allowing for this schedule and automatic ot is probably why they haven't hired a new nurse in 6+ yrs! i personally wouldn't work for salary because (as i am sure you know) nursing is not a regular job, you never get out on time and it seems like you're always getting called in. read your policy carefully before agreeing to work for salary.

Salary without chance for overtime?? On the floor?? I would never agree to this. Sound like they will be getting free labor.....IMO.

I agree with everyone else... salary for a floor nurse sounds very suspicious. I've worked in several different settings as a nurse and in all of them, there is a big likelihood you will not get off on time.

the only salary positions I would accept would be in management. No way would I work the floor on salary.

Thanks for your replies...I have a feeling this is not going to go over very well with a lot of people. Especially since they are making everyone do this. The thing is, some people signed on for weekends because they wanted weekdays off and the weekday people signed on because they wanted weekends off. Now,,,you have no choice unless your 'partner' on the unit is willing to work around your desired schedule.As for the overtime, they are assuming you will get in at 7 and leave at 7. There is NO WAY that is going to happen and they are definitely looking at getting free labor. If a person falls end of shift (which will happen) are you supposed to leave them on the floor for the oncoming nurse so you don't do the 30min-1hr interventions that need doing and following up? Something is definitely smelling fishy.....They will only give 4hrs OT Q2wks! regardless of how long you are stuck at work.I see lots of openings at this place very soon.

Hmmm, wonder what the labor board might say......

I would love to know a contact for this institution for more information.