More Innovative Flexible Work Options

Additional workforce programs can expand flexibility offerings for staff.

Weekend Program

Weekend programs aren't new, but they remain versatile options organizations can use to staff hard-to-fill weekend shifts and offer a break from rigid "every other weekend" expectations for full-time staff.

Best Practice

Use the weekend program to move from requiring staff to work every other weekend to requiring them to work every third weekend. This strategy allows you to offer work-life balance to frontline nurses who want to work fewer weekends.

Resource Nurse and Break Nurse

Resource nurses and break nurses ease hospital staff stress and workload by providing time away from the bedside and performing tasks such as changing wound vac dressings, administering conscious sedation, or placing a nasogastric tube.

Fill these positions based on competency, experience, and work performance to ensure they attract and retain high performers.

Best Practice

These roles also are an opportunity to retain experienced nurses looking for new options for work and alternatives to traditional shift offerings.

Telehealth

COVID-19 accelerated telehealth adoption as a workforce augmentation strategy. Telehealth won't reduce total nurse headcount, but it requires clear delineation of responsibilities between on-site and virtual nurses.

Best Practice

Consider telehealth models of care as a strategy for retaining staff who are near retirement and thinking of leaving the bedside due to long hours and the inability to meet the physical demands of the job.

Career Pathways

A career pathways program is essential for the development, retention, and rapid upskilling of the workforce. Define four to six key career pathways for the bedside nurse — such as transitioning from medical/surgical to critical care, or from direct care nurse to nurse educator.

Best Practice

Embed career pathway material into the nurse manager's check-in with frontline nurses to bring structure to career conversations, awareness of offerings, and how to apply.

Nurse Mentor and Preceptor

Structured preceptor programs provide the best experience for new nurses and combat 90-day and first-year turnover. Effective mentors offer a more holistic nursing experience to nurses seeking professional growth.

Best Practice

Offer mentorship opportunities both to nurses who want to give back and to nurses who want to be mentored. Consider cross-training — someone could be a gig nurse and a mentor, or a break nurse and a mentor.

Two More Programs

10-hour shifts: 8 hours of productive time (patient care) and 2 hours of indirect time for charting, committee work, or research. This removes overtime costs and builds retention.

Hourly or salaried employment: A salaried nurse may be more committed to the organization, but you'll need perks such as pensions and financial support for career advancement.