(Omaha, NE) -- CHI Health says they will roll out incentives for nurses amid a staffing shortage.
CHI says they are hoping the incentives will get nurses to pick up more shifts. Tim Plante, division VP for nursing at CHI Health, says although nurses already work long shifts, there are unfortunately more that need to be covered. “In our inpatient units, our emergency departments, and our women’s or maternity units." For each additional weekday shift in one of those units, nurses can get an extra $30 an hour, for weekends it jump up to $35.
“COVID had an impact on our team, they’re tired,” Plante says. “They’re really dedicated but they are tired. And so, we felt it was necessary to provide just a little bit more of a thank you for picking up.” Plante says the pandemic has also had an impact on how many nurses are working in the state. “I learned just last week from Nebraska Hospital Association that 10% of our nurses have left the profession altogether,” he shared.
The problem isn't just in Nebraska either, it's a nationwide issue. The American Nurses Association says more registered nursing jobs will be available through 2022 than any other profession in the U.S. “Every single hospital system, at least I know in the Omaha and Nebraska market are in the same situation we are,” Plante explained.
The incentives started Sunday, and Plante says so far, they’re working. “What I’m hearing from the different leaders of the different hospitals is that it’s been received very, very well. We are seeing nurses pick up those extra shifts.” CHI Health is also bringing in traveling nurses, but the demand for them is so high, they’re hard to get at an affordable rate.