Md. hospital offering $20k signing bonus to nurses amid nearly 4,000 statewide vacancies
LANHAM, Md. (WJLA) — At Luminis Doctors Community Medical Center in Lanham, Maryland, like every hospital, nurses are the primary caregivers and there simply aren’t enough.
“It’s a constant battle every day,” says Chief Nursing Officer Crystal Beckford. She says overall she’s short 20% and in some places, it is worse.
“In some areas, it’s a little bit higher running around 30% in some of our areas like intensive care and our emergency department," Beckford said.
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In August 2021, well into the pandemic, the Maryland Hospital Association polled its members and found 2,600 vacancies for permanent nursing jobs. Now the nursing shortage has grown to 3,900 job openings for nurses in hospitals across the state.
Bob Atlas is the President of the association. He says some nurses are following the money and leaving hospitals to become contract traveling nurses.
“The pay levels are three and four times even what normal wages would be,” Atlas said.. "So our hospitals are offering increased benefits like education benefits retention bonuses.”
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The University of Maryland medical system website is offering $12,000 to new community college grads and other incentives. It also lists page after page of open nursing jobs all across the state.
Back at Doctors, Beckford is offering up to a $20,000 signing bonus, and an unvarnished sales pitch.
“As a nurse, I don’t think anyone can ever pay you enough,” says Beckford. “There will be tough days but again when aligns with your own morals and values you will find a reward in it each and every day.”
