What has your workplace done to retain nurses?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2014

I'm trying to avoid monetary awards as well.

We all need more money. . .

Anyhow, you could make shows of appreciation such as nurse of the week and greeting cards thanking the nurses for all that they do.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Apr 15, 2014

Honest thank you's go a lot farther than some cheap pens.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2014

Honest thank you's go a lot farther than some cheap pens.

And I notice our floor gets a lot of the cheap ink pens during Nurses' Week, which will be coming up soon (is it this week?). I can go to the store on my own and get a dozen pens for $1 per pack, so they're the last thing we need.

lxpatterson · Apr 15, 2014

Being respected and appreciated by colleagues, medical and allied staff (and reciprocating that feeling). That might include bringing in a silly joke gift that is part of an inside joke on the unit; being thanked for doing a good job; receiving informative feedback or education when you've missed something.

Caffeine_IV · Apr 15, 2014

This type thing doesn't sway me but we have monthly birthday celebration and people bring in food/snacks to share in our lounge.

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Apr 15, 2014

I think fun ideas make nurses smile, have a laugh, enjoy their day--however, not sure if that equates long term retention.

I think that retaining nurses has more to do with a positive culture on the unit. By a manager not afraid to get into the trenches when they need to, that have the backs of the nurses under their employ, who actively listen to ideas, and support a nursing staff large enough to make realistic patient assignments, everyone gets a break, a lunch...

Also, listen to your UAP's, your ward clerk--as when they feel they are supported, they in turn support nursing and it is a win-win. If you have a CNA that has been with the unit for 100 years, they know what is happening and going on--they can give great ideas on what works and what doesn't.

If there is a place in the break room for a bulletin board, it is cool to do a "kudos" board. Anything from someone's "effective communication in a pinch" to "rocking the color purple today" to "made me laugh so hard I need a depends" just fun stuff allowed. It is really funny to read this stuff when you are lunching (and again, provide adequate time and staffing for a lunch), We even had a thing once where there was a tiara pin that went from nurse to nurse--inside joke for nurse who had a short shift, (a princess shift haha) to one who had a most "delightful" patient that they took on with ease (and lots of help from a CNA who had a "way" with the patient). Take on the "Queen for the day" show from the 50's.

RNperdiem, RN · Apr 15, 2014

I once got a handwritten thank-you note signed by my nurse manager and assistant managers thanking me for all the floating to other units I did when the census of our home unit was slow. I was blown away. They noticed and appreciated what I did.

allnurses Guide · Apr 15, 2014

Long term retention for me comes down to a positive work environment, opportunities for growth (both education and advancement of my career), genuine shows of appreciation, being paid fairly, being allowed to take my PTO when I need/want it, safe patient to nurse ratios and opportunities to decompress with other members of my team.

I know you said you didn't want monetary but if I am not paid within parameters for the market I live in and/or if ratios aren't kept within safe parameters no show of appreciation is going to be enough to keep me there. Period.

hope3456, ASN, RN · Apr 15, 2014

I think the cheap little "nurse gifts" are actually kind've insulting if you actually think they are a means of retaining nurses.

I look more at what kind of benefits I am getting, safety of the workplace, fairness of scheduling, staffing ratios, ect.

I have also made hasty decisions to quit jobs based on conflicts with management.

Also, sometimes retention is really beyond the NM control. Nurses often quit jobs because they are relocating with their husbands, family reasons, ect.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Apr 16, 2014

I have also made hasty decisions to quit jobs based on conflicts with management.

Yep. People don't really quit their jobs. They quit their managers.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Apr 16, 2014

In my mind,fun and simple does not correlate to retention. I myself, do not appreciate fluff attempts at appreciation.

Recently I received an email from my manager expressing appreciation for my productivity.

um yay, how about a gift certificate for my lunch or something?

Trust me, your manager has money in the budget for this. Manager would rather have it in THEIR pocket at the end of the year.