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May 28 , 2008

HRMC developing plan to attract and retain nurses

As Haywood Regional Medical Center moves forward with its Medicare and Medicaid coverage, all efforts are being made to recruit registered nurses and clinicians, especially those who have left in recent months.

Hospital administrators are initiating a number of programs to attract and retain nurses and clinicians, said Interim CEO Alton Byers.

“We have the best benefit plan in Western North Carolina,” said Krys Candelaria, interim chief nursing officer for HRMC. “Employees receive excellent health insurance, sick time, paid time off based on hours worked, a pension plan and a fitness center membership.”

Hope Malec, a physical therapy assistant, has only worked at HRMC since September, was recognized Thursday for her efforts to recruit nurses for the hospital. Malec said she enjoys working at HRMC so much she has spread that message to others in the field.

“We recently lost some people and I wanted to make sure that we refilled those positions as soon as possible. I’ve been telling all the nurses I know that they should come to work here,” Malec said.

Her personal recruitment efforts have resulted in three applications, including one nursing supervisor who has been hired.

“During these very difficult times, some of our employees rose to the challenge to do extraordinary things,” said Ed McLaughlin, interim human resource director at HRMC. “I mentioned to Al Byers (interim CEO) about Hope’s efforts and he suggested we do something special for her.”

Malec was presented $100 Thursday, which she said will likely be spent on gas.

“What sells is that I love this hospital. I love my department and I love working here,” Malec said.

Malec said she also would like to eventually work in the hospital, seeing acute care patients. In addition to physical therapy, she is qualified to work with wound care patients.

Creating an attractive work environment
According to a survey conducted by the N.C. Center for Nursing, nurses at 125 hospitals and 372 long-term care facilities were asked to indicate the reasons why they had stayed with the same employer for more than five years. The reasons they listed included: good compensation, a positive work environment and flexible scheduling.

The majority of nurses responded in the survey that good relations with physicians had been a factor in keeping them in their jobs for five years or more. Others indicated that good mentors and colleagues had contributed to their decision to stay with the same employer. Finally, 42 percent specifically mentioned that management’s willingness to accommodate their scheduling needs was a reason for staying with the same employer.

Those are all work ethics practiced at HRMC, Candelaria said.

“The philosophy of our nursing department is to respect the judgment of each nurse, to allow inclusiveness, and to assure that administrators listen to what nurses have to say,” she said.

In addition to giving nurses and clinicians the opportunity for decision-making participation and input, Haywood Regional Medical Center offers competitive wages, flexible scheduling, continuing education and professional practice development opportunities, recognition programs, bonus programs, preceptorships, and competency-based orientation for new employees.

“One thing that has changed is we now support and encourage nurses pursuing advanced degrees and we offer tuition reimbursement,” Candelaria said.

HRMC is not the only hospital seeking to hire additional nurses. There are dozens of openings posted by hospitals in neighboring counties. Travel time and expense can be cost prohibitive to driving farther to work, said Eileen Lipham, HRMC vice president of professional development.

“With the current high price of gasoline, travel can be a huge expense,” Lipham said. The winter weather is also a factor to be considered, when inclement weather can create treacherous driving conditions, she said.

Distance is no deterrent for Malec, who lives in Jackson County and drives to Haywood County to work.

“I looked at other hospitals when I graduated from Southwestern Community College and Haywood Regional was my choice,” she said.

Nurses surveyed by the N.C. Center for Nursing indicated that management’s willingness to accommodate their scheduling needs was one of the reasons for staying with the same employer. HRMC’s staffing policy takes into consideration the needs of patients and the needs of nurses, Candelaria said.

“We staff according to patient acuity, staff mix and level of experience of the practitioners,” she said.

As HRMC begins the journey of recovery, administrators and supervisors want to assure quality service by retaining qualified workers and recruiting new nurses and clinicians. HRMC will retain and attract nurses that, through their expertise and dedication, will partner in the quest to establish Haywood Regional Medical Center as a model hospital, Byers said.

“We welcome new graduates, part-time, full-time and per diem nurses,” Candelaria said.

Haywood Regional Medical Center was established in 1927. The current facility opened in 1979. HRMC is a not-for-profit public hospital. It is the third largest employer in Haywood County, with more than 900 employees. For more information, go to www.haymed.org.