Help with Staffing Incentives?

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Hi, I am responsible for coming up with staffing programs to help cover multiple units that are currently short staffed. Can anyone share with me incentive programs they have seen work for nurses to cover 6 week or 12 week schedules? We currently offer last minute bonus pay shifts but I am looking for something that gets nurses to proactively schedule themselves to avoid last minute begging. One example: Commit to one 12-hr OT shift each week for 6 or 12 weeks, each OT shifts is time and a half plus $10/hr., etc.

PS. I can't change leadership practices. ? Just looking for unique staffing incentives. Thanks in advance for sharing!

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I know of one place that posts all of the open shifts for anyone qualified to work them rather than nurses who just staff in a particular department. A SICU nurse would be able to pick up overtime in MICU, and floor nurses could pick up extra in med-surg units. There is also a critical staffing bonus for the really short-staffed units.

The main filler of staffing holes is the nursing flex team. My hospital has made an effort to grow the flex team so there is a whole department of nurses ready to pick up the slack. They hire carefully, so the nurses that get sent are good at their jobs.

My unit has several people who always work overtime, add in a few per diem staff, and a large flex pool staff, and staffing gets covered.

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Specializes in ER OR LTC Code Blue Trauma Dog.

Employees are not always motivated using money. Studies show they often prefer things of intrinsic value instead.

Free food vouchers for the cafeteria.

Airline miles.

Gift certificates.

Free gifts. (stethoscopes, scrubs, lab coats, shoes etc,)

Special VIP parking pass privileges for a limited time.

Concert or other event tickets.

Free gas card

Work so many hours and earn a "Day Off" pass.

Change it up frequently and just make it fun for everyone.

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When I worked another floor not my own, I always appreciated it when the nurses helped me find things, etc. and said thanks so much for coming! When you feel welcomed and appreciated it does make a difference.

When I was a manager I would give a thank you card for helping, I would give little gifts of appreciation, I know one manager gave a nurse a 6 pack of big red because she said, I will buy you a 6 pack if you work this one shift. It was in good fun and made things better. We were on such a tight budget that we had to reduce critical pay sometimes.

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Oh yea and the more hours they worked the bigger bonus they got at Christmas, it was calculated that way. Not only extra pay but a nice surprise just before the holidays that they had to look forward to.

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The local hospital does it per shift in tiers. For example if a dayshift nurse picks up a 12 hour nightshift they get Tier 4 bonus which is an extra $500 for the shift (I believe). Tier 4 is the most critical.

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Specializes in Gerontology.

How about just having adequate staffing so people din’t Have to work overtime??

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Specializes in Mental Health.
3 hours ago, Crash_Cart said:

Special VIP parking pass privileges for a limited time.

Pass for the physicians garage - sold! ??

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
3 hours ago, Crash_Cart said:

Employees are not always motivated using money. Studies show they often prefer things of intrinsic value instead.

Free food vouchers for the cafeteria.

Airline miles.

Gift certificates.

Free gifts. (stethoscopes, scrubs, lab coats, shoes etc,)

Special VIP parking pass privileges for a limited time.

Concert or other event tickets.

Free gas card

Work so many hours and earn a "Day Off" pass.

Change it up frequently and just make it fun for everyone.

Why would I care more about stuff I can buy with money than actual money?

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Specializes in Mental Health.
46 minutes ago, FolksBtrippin said:

Why would I care more about stuff I can buy with money than actual money?

You’d think so but Crash Cart is right. I’ve done a research study on retention and money is not even in the top several things that keeps employees happy and loyal.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.
10 minutes ago, Rionoir said:

You’d think so but Crash Cart is right. I’ve done a research study on retention and money is not even in the top several things that keeps employees happy and loyal.

You are saying something very different than what crash cart says. Yes, I am happy and loyal to my workplace where I feel respected and valued and I was not happy at the one where I made more money and got less respect.

My question is, why would anyone want 100 dollars of tchatchkes over 100 dollars? No one wants bs gifts over money. Everyone wants respect, a nurturing and positive environment.

Cite your research.

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We have an incentive sign up schedule after scheduling ends. You get a certain amount for each shift worked on top of your time and a half. But the rules have become so ridiculous to get that bonus money nobody signs up for it anymore. It’s like they look for any reason to not pay you the money promised for incentive shifts worked.

It’s so demoralizing. Don’t wait 2 months to pay the incentive money and don’t tell people that if they call in a month later it negates the bonus shift they worked. You can’t plan illness.

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