Keeping experienced staff!!!

[riden6944]

What is your facility doing to keep experienced staff? I need ideas to give the management at my facility. What benefits do nurses that have been on the unit for years have to stay?

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Experienced staff want pay raises and respect. Management knows this, but they would rather throw a pizza party.

[Farawyn]

Experienced staff want pay raises and respect. Management knows this, but they would rather throw a pizza party.

We should just close this thread right now, because right here is THE answer.

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

We should just close this thread right now, because right here is THE answer.

But what if it's REALLY good pizza...?

[Farawyn]

But what if it's REALLY good pizza...?

Okay, so in NY...we want more $$$, more respect, and pizza.

[Davey Do]

What is your facility doing to keep experienced staff?

Involve the experienced staff in making the rules and guidelines; policies and procedures.

Too often, the higher ups make imprudent decisions affecting staff duties and patient care with a limited, parochial perspective.

[OldDude]

Capping the salary is always a motivator. And like Davey mentioned. It's never a good idea to draw from the most experienced for how improve a department. You know, like how the military would pull in a transmission repair tech to draw up battle plans for the 5 star generals to fight? Yea, stuff like that...and pizza...and shout outs pinned on a bulletin board.

[Davey Do]

Okay, so in NY...we want more $$$, more respect, and pizza.

What about mood music?

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[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

We have some perks for more veteran staff. No floating, no holidays, shift choice. It's the nurses that are 3-5 years that we are having trouble keeping. Some go on to get NP, some get homesick, but most just weren't prepared and they have the "grass is greener" mentality.

For the most part it is pretty much the same.

My unit has been a unit with poor morale and low employee satisfaction. We just got a new manager and I have a good feeling about the changes that are coming. We've been left out of the loop on a lot of things.

[Buckeye.nurse]

I'll echo what mmc51264 said. I've been at my current employer for 6 years. There's not much happening above me on the seniority list. Every now and then someone retires, or decides to go to the outpatient 9-5 pm life, or graduates from grad school. For the most part though, those nurses have enough seniority that they are getting the schedules, holidays, and vacations they want.

On the other end of the spectrum, new hires are required to stay on the hiring floor for 18 months if they want to continue working for my employer. So needless to say, no movement there. The challenge is keeping nurses invested and engaged between the 18 month and 5 year mark (at least in my experience).

I'll never say no to pay increases, respect, or pizza though! :)

[Farawyn]

What about mood music?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]26107[/ATTACH]

You fell, Ill.?

[Buckeye.nurse]

I read it as "I feel ill". As in, this medical elevator music is making me nauseous :)