Layoff survivor sickness: how to cope when you do not lose your job

Health care systems have been among the last secure job market. With the 1990s, that ended and now health care reflects what has been happening in business for years. Health care reform triggered many changes in hospitals. Tremendous pressure was brought on health care organizations for reform and cost-cutting. These cost-cutting initiatives were often directed at nurses because they occupied the largest portion of the organization's budget. Various terms--downsizing, redesigning, re-engineering, and restructuring--were used to describe the displacement of registered nurses. Assisting those nurses who remain on the job is becoming increasingly important in preventing and treating layoff survivor sickness. The stress and coping mechanisms displayed by those who have not been downsized and are grieving and feeling guilty about keeping their jobs is only now being studied.