Westmoreland Manor will again offer bonuses to attract new nurses to the county-owned nursing home.

Officials said there are 23 nursing vacancies at the home — and with hospitals, independent care facilities and other health care institutions looking to hire — officials said the additional cash is needed to attract candidates in what has become a highly competitive market.

The county salary board, which includes all three commissioners and Controller Jeffrey Balzer, last week approved the program in which full-time registered nurses and licensed practical nurses hired through Nov. 30 will receive signing bonuses of $5,000 to be paid in four installments over two years.

Newly hired certified nursing aides with at least one year of experience will be paid a $1,000 signing bonus to be paid in four $250 installments for two years.

“Nurses are in high demand in western Pennsylvania and we need to make sure we are competitive to continue to provide excellent care for our residents,” said Commissioner Gina Cerilli. “Nursing homes and hospitals are all competing for the same workforce. Other private homes in our region are offering signing bonuses. The county already provides great wages, benefits and a pension, but we also need to offer bonuses to attract our local work force.”

Signing bonuses for nursing hires at the Manor were first implemented in 2018 and resulted in 29 hires who were paid about $20,000 in incentives, according to Amanda Bernard, the county’s director of human relations.

Bonuses have become an important hiring tactic to fill nursing jobs in the health care industry, especially at nursing homes amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, said Betsy Snook, chief executive officer for the Pennsylvania State Nursing Association.

“Offering a sign-on bonus is not unusual for either hospitals or long-term care facilities when they need extra help or in this case when it may be due to many staff being ill,” Snook said.

A nursing shortage is expected within the next decade in Pennsylvania.

A report issued last year by Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale indicated that, according to U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, the state could have a shortage of 4,000 nurses by 2020.

Signing bonuses, according to Westmoreland officials, are designed to offset routine attrition and ensure that the 400-bed Manor is in a position to provide proper care.

The county has been forced to pay increased overtime for on-staff nurses and hire private agencies to provide personnel needed to keep mandated staffing levels. There are 40 licensed practical nurses and 23 full-time registered nurses on staff at the Manor.

Angela Knauff, the Manor’s administrator, did not returned requests for comment and county officials could not say what overtime and private nursing costs the county incurred last year.

“Over the last year, the Manor has had difficulty in keeping those positions filled,” said Commissioner Doug Chew. “Bonuses are a step in right director to build up our staff.”

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