Innovative solution to a staffing shortage

Oct 8, 04

Via Smart Mobs

A couple of hospitals in the US now allow their nurses to bid for shift work in an attempt to address nursing shortages.

The hospitals use a software product called e-shift that allows nurses to bid for shifts. The hospital posts the shift openings and the maximum it is willing to pay and a pre-condition that the nurses must be willing to work at least four shifts a month.

This is what the nurses have to say: (From The Boston Globe

  • “User friendly” was also the description used by Arsenault, the Nashoba nurse, who works in the medical-surgical unit. “I usually make a bid once a week, which is very easy to do,” she said, noting that the top hourly rate is $37.50. And more often than not, she said, the top rate is obtainable.
  • And that’s also been the experience of Gill, an emergency room nurse. “I always try to go for the top ER rate of $42.50 an hour, and so far, I’ve had good luck getting it,” she said.
  • An ER nurse who wants “to lock in” her rate at $37 an hour automatically gets work when a slot opens up, she said.
  • “I really like this system because I have a very busy lifestyle and it gives me flexibility,” said Arsenault, 26
  • Polley, 43, said he often seeks work on his off-days because “of a son who’s starting college.”
    It addresses the shortage problem and I guess will work only in ?shortage? scenarios and in industries facing acute shortage.
  • To read more including a number of comments about the system go here

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