An incentive plan for nurses: linking bonuses to both care and documentation

Productivity and quality are not mutually exclusive as many nurses believe. Management's responsibility to its staff is to provide systems that will allow for safe and realistic productivity expectations while not compromising quality care. Incentives add to the program, but they are the last step in a series of changes that must be jointly agreed on before nurses can be financially rewarded. This program, which combines salary plus incentive for those nurses wishing to participate, is the end result of much effort, cooperation, and negotiation between nursing staff and management.