CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn., is struggling to recruit and retain nurses as it competes with ASCs, physician practices and other hospitals for talent, according to the Times Free Press.
Three insights:
1. CHI Memorial is competing with local facilities, along with ones in Nashville, Tenn., and Atlanta. The nearby Erlanger and Parkridge health systems are also trying to build their nursing workforce.
"There are so many options," CHI Memorial Chief Nursing Officer Rhonda Hatfield told the TFP. "As [nurses] get their two to three years [of] experience, they look for that next advanced step."
2. The hospital plans to offer a $20,000 sign-on bonus for some nursing positions this month. It aims to fill between 50 and 100 bedside nursing positions.
3. More than 6,500 registered nurses live in Hamilton County, and nearly 500 students graduate each year from six nursing programs in the Chattanooga area.