Double pay wasn't enough to keep COVID nurses staffed, so SC hospital upped the ante

[TexasTowelie]

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- During the summer months when COVID-19 cases started spiking around the state, the Tidelands Health System saw its nurse staffing needs increase by 50%.

So to meet that demand, Tidelands began offering double pay to encourage nurses to take extra shifts in addition to their three 12-hours shifts a week. When there wasn’t enough participation, the premium incentive increased to triple pay.

The pay hike sent a convincing message to the health care workers, one nurse said.

“It sweetens the deal and makes it easier to consider working extra shifts, and it increased the morale of a lot of the other staff members and made everyone feel better not only about working extra shifts, but also the hazard of caring for the COVID patients if you will,” said Nicole Kassen, a 47-year-old nurse who works at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital, adding that the pay increase made her think she could work more, sacrificing her personal time.

Tidelands wasn’t alone.

Read more: https://www.thestate.com/news/coronavirus/article244462057.html

[Midnight Writer]

1. This should be permanent. Should do the same for teachers.

It is ridiculous that when health care is 20% of our economy, the frontline providers get such modest pay.

Higher pay will attract more highly qualified professionals.

If you have ever dealt with our health system, you will understand how much a good nurse is worth.