Flexestaff News & Events

Making a Difference for Nurses at Resurrection Health Care

Advance for Nurses
January 24, 2005

Chicago—Resurrection Health Care, Chicago, is experiencing a buzz of excitement over an innovative new staffing option for nurses to work extra shifts for premium pay.

In September 2004, Resurrection Health Care introduced online shift bidding to meet staffing needs, decrease costs, and improve employee and patient satisfaction by allowing qualified registered nurses to schedule extra shifts.

Qualified RNs throughout the healthcare system can now take advantage of a web-based scheduling system to sign up for additional shifts anywhere with internet access. The tool provides nurses with the freedom to self-schedule and the opportunity to choose their pay.

Win-Win Situation
In a typical shift-bidding setup, qualified RNs are able to review available shifts using the system on the Resurrection Health Care Web site and bid on their hourly rate. Nurses may view empty shifts on units like med/surg, critical care or the ED and make a bid on any unfilled shift if they have the required credentials. The lowest qualified bidder “wins” the shift and is notified via e-mail when the auction closes, typically 2-10 days before the shift begins.

“We are glad to be offer shift bidding to our nurses because it gives them more freedom and choices,” said Janet Stifter, MS, RN, vice president of patient care services at Saint Joseph Hospital , Chicago . “The flexibility allows our staff to better meet their personal work-life objectives and allows Resurrection Health Care to maintain the continuity of high quality patient care.”

Almost all Resurrection Health Care facilities will offer online shift bidding by the end of the first quarter of 2005, including six hospitals, eight nursing and rehabilitation centers, and home health services. As a result, qualified RNs will have the opportunity to fill vacant shifts throughout the system that might not have been available to them before.

“It is nice to know that if West Suburban Medical Center needs OB nurses and Saint Joseph Hospital is looking for additional shifts to work, the Saint Joseph Hospital nurse can go online, bid on the shift and in turn meet some of the staffing needs at West Suburban,” Stifter said.

“The true advantage of a healthcare system as large as Resurrection Health Care utilizing online shift bidding is the fact that our nurses can control when they work and how much they earn, and our patients can receive care from the nurses we trust and respect.”

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