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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
Beyond Signing Bonuses
Realizing that sign-on bonuses don’t always keep nurses in the acute-care setting, many hospitals, including Yakima, are offering creative perks to recruit new nurses and retain their existing staff. These perks include flexible scheduling, professional development, and programs designed to empower nurses and improve the hospital’s corporate culture.
“We also offer all of the nurses the same pay structure,” Franz says. “They receive the same compensation whether they are working in home health, the hospital or the clinics.”
In 2006, Yakima began offering “Into the Blue,” a four-day program, to all employees. Designed by the Pacific Institute, a training and consulting company, the program aims to maximize the spirit of leadership in every individual.
“The program essentially teaches employees how to better understand one another’s personalities and temperaments and how to foster healthy relationships,” says Jennifer Tate, Yakima’s director of organizational health and wellness. “It shows how to remove self-imposed limits to achieve your goals.”
Tate says more than 1,800 employees have gone through the program and have reported tremendous success.
“I’ve heard story after story of how this program has changed our employees’ lives both personally and professionally,” Tate says. “There was one woman who always wanted to learn how to scuba dive, and this course motivated her to do so at the age of 60. Another man closed the mortgage on his home after finishing the program.”
The course complements Yakima’s already strong corporate culture, Tate says.
“Our CEO sends all of our 2,000 employees a card on their birthday,” she says. “On Christmas, he and the VP of nursing hand out flowers to all the nurses working that day.”
While lucrative sign-on bonuses can initially attract nurses, Tate believes that a positive working environment is more important when it comes to retaining staff.
“We all spend a lot of time at work,” she says. “It’s important to be someplace where you feel appreciated and are able to make a difference.”
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6 days ago
36 comments
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Sylvia321
6 months ago
14 comments
It is true.. i can vouch for that
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neenrn
almost 2 years ago
12 comments
The hospital I work at just changed the clinical ladder and now all of the level III nurses are dropping to level II nurses. In the department I work in 4 nurses have gotten certified (I am already and I have an MSN in nursing education) they have applied to stay level III nurses and none have made it. This is very dishartening for all of us, as well we found a memo that the weekends and and nights were going to lose their differentials. But thank Gods we got magnet status!!!! I have a feeling we will lose our top 5 status after all the older nurses quit and there are nothing but new grads who will buy this nurinsg administrations bullsh*t
hornbuckle
almost 2 years ago
2 comments
I am a hard worker who is rarely absent. Keeps up with the lattest issues and pt care.I need a job.
subership
almost 2 years ago
2 comments
I guess not all jobs are the same! I have a family member who passed this week. He received his care at Yakima. The family is also happy with his care over the past couple of years.
1999diva
almost 2 years ago
14 comments
Nice to know that not all jobs are that hard. I won't mind working in those places some day.
smschaflePHN
almost 2 years ago
38 comments
Good, but disappointing. I was hoping to read about hospitals that give nurses vip treatment when they are in the beds instead of next to the beds. It's been a fantacy of mine to open a retirement home for nurses and give them fabulous care as a reward for all the caring that they have given over the course of their life times. Although the service offered is good, I'd like to see something long range giving nurses something to look forward to when they retire. Doctors make enough money to retire rather nicely, but the nurses...well, you fill in the blanks. Would you like to see a something long term for nurses, too? I'd like to hear your comments. Thanks.
nursekjoe
almost 2 years ago
2 comments
This sounds like Heaven. I have been a nurse for for 27 years and long for the opportunity to be treated with respect and dignity. Recently tried to go into a new job venue and was discharged because I was too positive, helpful, enthusiastic and trying to assist coworkers who were overloaded. What is this nursing world coming to?
Account Removed
about 4 years ago
Now if all hospitals could be like this, nursing would be paradise.
ladycyn12
about 4 years ago
4 comments
I think there heading in the right direction, you have to have a happy and up beat seat too heal. Stressed out nurses are the worst thing to have, for healing patiences. Keep up the great work. Wish other hospitals would follow that lead.
AmbitiousFutureRN
over 4 years ago
52 comments
Smart hospital! Why cant other hospitals follow their lead? I always read stores of nurses who work in crappy hospitals that only care about money and not about their staff or patients. Its sad.
Nicolee
over 4 years ago
42 comments
Wow. Too bad all hospitals cant think aout the nurses likeing theirjobs whether than working there because they have to. They give so many extra's to keep people there, its nice. I would love to work there!
mandietaylor
over 4 years ago
234 comments
Good to know that there are facilities out there taking care of their employees. A good working environment is so important for everyone. I hope that I am blessed enough to find a place where I feel appreciated and wanted, not just another number in a crowd.
gspilswill
over 4 years ago
2 comments
Your programs sounds wonderful. How can I join your team. I am a second year nursing student in Europe and is looking for summer inernship during the months of july and August 2009. Hopefully after I have conpleted my studies, I can be one of the supply that meets your demand.
kstiltner1
over 4 years ago
7172 comments
Great article. But is it too good to be true?