Online Bidding Helps New York Hospital Solve Nursing Shortage
Since January, when Albany, N.Y.-based St. Peter's Hospital established an online service to recruit nurses, the hospital has seen its nursing vacancy rate drop from 20% to 3%, the Albany Times Union reports. To alleviate the nursing shortage and save money, St. Peter's launched a Web site that allowed nurses to bid on shifts and wages. Hospital officials hoped the site would attract competitive bids from nurses who work for temporary agencies, doctors' offices or HMOs and reduce the time nursing supervisors spent filling shifts. Hospital spokesperson Elmer Streeter said, "It has helped. Our nursing supervisors are spending a lot less time trying to fill shifts." But Streeter added, "We certainly don't think we're over the hump. This is a problem that's going to be with us for a long time" (Wood, Albany Times Union, 10/29).
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