Staffing incentive programs to meet workforce shortage needs

The availability of a sufficient number of staff to meet patients' needs is essential to both the quality of care delivered and the retention of nurses who provide that care. During nursing shortages, this demand is often one of the most challenging for nurse administrators attempting to maintain care delivery standards and a stable workforce. Many institutions, including the one described in this article, are forced to hire temporary agency employees when additional staff cannot be hired to fill vacant positions or meet program expansion needs. At Strong Memorial Hospital (SMH) in Rochester, New York, several innovative staffing incentive programs were implemented to reduce the hospital's reliance on agency staff and meet its commitment to patient and staff satisfaction and well-being.