Hospitals finding working conditions key to luring nurses

With a serious nursing shortage looming, hospitals are starting to develop new strategies for attracting and retaining nurses (Source: “What Nurses Want: Recruitment Plans Focus On Working Conditions Over Financial Rewards,” Washington Post, Sept. 13, 2008). 

Nationwide there are more than 100,000 open nursing positions and when the retirement rate for Baby Boomers peaks in 2025, it is estimated that there will be a shortage of about 1 millon.

Hospitals typically have used signing bonuses and other financial incentives to attract and retain nurses. However, they have found that nurses typically leave the job as soon as they meet the terms of their bonus. That's why more hospitals are emphasizing improvements to working conditions, including implementing health information technology to reduce paperwork, offering more flexible hours, reducing caseloads, paying for advanced training and giving nurses more say in patient care.