An increasing number of hospitals are using 'shift bidding', allowing employees to pick their own hours and pay by bidding on work shifts over the Internet, to attract more nurses. Shift bidding allows nurses more scheduling flexibility and makes it easier for hospitals to fill unpopular shifts. A spokeswoman for the American Nurses Association said that this new practice would not solve the long-term nursing shortage.
See "Hospitals try online staffing", Alicia Chang, Chicago Tribune, January 12, 2004