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Make Nurses Happy, Some Hospitals Say
Kaiser Permanente offers nurses (and other employees) concierge services to help with dinner reservations, car repairs, mailing packages and dry cleaning pickup, among other services.
Linda Childers | Monster Contributing Writer
Onsite Degree Programs
At Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, California, nurses enjoy working in an academic medical center that fosters innovation and puts them on the forefront of cutting-edge research.
Since the medical center is adjacent to Stanford University, nurses enjoy a number of university perks in addition to their standard employment benefits. The Work/Life office helps nurses identify childcare options and offers guidance on elder-care responsibilities and adoption assistance.
Packard also promotes further education by offering onsite master’s- and bachelor’s-degree programs for nurses, tuition reimbursement, scholarships and flexible scheduling to support nurses who want to continue their education.
The hospital introduced a shared governance model in 2006, in which clinical nurses have a voice in determining nursing practice, standards and quality of care.
Making Life Easier
Some hospitals have also started offering more work/life balance options to their nurses.
“We offer a variety of part-time shifts and eight- and 12-hour shifts to better accommodate [nurses’] needs,” says Sharron Hadick, RN, BSN, MPA, nurse recruitment program manager for Packard.
At Kaiser Permanente’s Oakland Medical Center, employees can tap free concierge services for help with dinner reservations, car repairs, mailing packages, catering and event planning, picking up and dropping off dry cleaning, and lawn and garden care. The organization offers the concierge services to all of its 3,000 employees and 300 physicians as a gesture of appreciation.
“If you want to attend a dinner and play in San Francisco after work, the concierge service can make your reservations,” says Kathy Sommese, a clinical nurse supervisor for Kaiser Permanente in Oakland.
Sommese has also taken advantage of the employee health-club membership and tuition benefits. She is currently pursuing her BSN in an online degree program and regularly works out at a fitness club, paying a discounted rate.
“We also get discounted tickets to a number of local attractions,” Sommese says. “I bought tickets to Disneyland at a substantial discount and took my sons there last summer.”
This article was originally published on Monster.com.
DaMomb
over 5 years ago
1244 comments
I'm sending this article to my supervisor. I know it'll probably stop there, but it's worth a shot. I think this company has the fast track to success for nurses cornered! Finally, someone who listens!
charlita
over 5 years ago
2976 comments
This is a wonderful way to attract nurses and to keep them. I recently posted an article on a local Home Health agency that is furnishing it's nurses with a brand new car for their home visits for as long as they are employed. They also pay for the maintemance of the car. I think this is a wonderful incentive.
theala
over 5 years ago
418 comments
That's how to retain nurses. Make them feel valued, and listen to them. Help them make living in the 21st century easier while working long, hard shifts. dmazement: well, the flowers and cards mean less to me than the effort of the CEO and VP of Nursing actually making a real effort to connect with staff. How many CEO's come into the hospital EVERY Christmas? The CEO of the last hospital I worked for required EVERY employee to work part of Christmas Day. That made things hard on empolyees who had to travel to visit family on Christmas, including me as I have a 5 hour drive so Christmas was a bust for me. The CEO and managers got to spend the entire day with family, or travel if they wished. Employees were not allowed to take vacation.
Account Removed
over 5 years ago
I think it's about time, facilities actually realize to retain nurses is to create a healthy work environment, excellent retirement and insurance benefits, flexible shifts, tuition reimbursement and for those with children onsite child care. I could care less about flowers, birthday cards etc, although nice is not necessary to me.