SmartSNFguy

I am an PRN at a local facility but have been consulting to a cool software company that has developed a product I actually believe in and can see it benefiting our nursing profession. The application combines scheduling functionality and instant automated communication like text messaging, email and calling. Without going into more boring details, what do you guys think the best way would be for them to get the message out to other facilities - nursing homes, hospitals, etc... that such a service exists and could be a big help. All their early adopters seem to love it, but not many more places even realize this exists. So what's the best way to get the message out there about this? Thanks!!

Have you experienced or seen excessive or unfair favoritism for nurses that are willing to pick up extra shifts from call-offs? On the other side, does your facility indirectly punish those that don't pick up shifts with the undesirable schedules or shifts? Really your experiences.

Your point about changing conditions is right on. Which is why the communication service is very non-intrusive so staff don't get harassed and can pick/choose when they do want to pick up extra shifts for extra overtime dollars. I spoke to staff that was even angry that they were passed over for extra overtime shifts due to favoritism for others. Some really wanted the equal opportunity to pick and the rest have the right to opt out. If that process was in place it might actually improve the conditions?

I work for a software company that lets nursing homes instantly reach all possible RNs and STNAs that can possibly replace a nurse or aide that has called off or did not show up for a shift. And many homes we work with said that calling agencies was not an option due to cost. What I am curios about is that one of the comments we get is that whomever is doing the searching for a replacement (most of the time calling down a phone list or asking others on the floor to pull a double) has to beg and plead on a personal level to convince someone to take that shift. My questions are: a) do you think that the need to beg and plead is primarily due to not being able or not having enough time to reach all possible replacements for a shift? and b) if they were able to really notify and instantly reach all possible nurses/aides that could fill a shift, would that have more success and reduce (not eliminate) the need to beg and plead? Thanks for all your input.