Nursing shortage has hospitals getting creative with incentives
Charleston Area Medical Center in Charleston, West Virginia, is struggling with a $40 million deficit, but has spent $12 million this year on “travel” nurses in order to keep the hospital operational.
“I’ve been a nurse 40 years, and the shortage is the worst I’ve ever seen it,” Ron Moore, who retired in October from his position as vice president and chief nursing officer for the center, told Reuters.
As more baby boomer nurses retire and the profession becomes dominated by less experienced millennials, hospitals are exploring many ways to attract nursing talent. Charleston Area Medical is offering nursing students tuition reimbursement if they commit to work at the hospital for two years. Other facilities are turning to higher salaries, signing bonuses and free housing.
J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.V., affiliated with West Virginia University, is considering paying college tuition for the family members of long-time nurses to keep them in the state.
“We’ll do whatever we need to do,” said Doug Mitchell, vice president and chief nursing officer of WVU Medicine.
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John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.