The organization currently has a 19 percent vacancy rate for nursing positions and a 47 percent turnover rate, reports KFOR-TV.
Below are four initiatives the Oklahoma health system is implementing to retain and recruit nurses:
1. OU Health is providing retention bonuses to current nurses.
2. The system is launching the “Travel at Home” program, which gives current nurses the option to be paid a traveling nurse rate instead of receiving a benefits package, unless legally mandated.
3. The “Weekend Program” gives nurses 72 hours of pay for 48 hours of work if they complete four 12-hour weekend shifts every two week pay period.
4. The system will give nurses a tuition reimbursement of $5,250 per year for any accredited nursing program, or they can apply for scholarships in three different degree programs.
