COLUMBUS, Ga., Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- As more hospitals ramp up efforts to attract and retain quality nursing staffs, a new survey(i) by insurance provider Aflac finds that 86 percent of nurses say a hospital's benefit package is one of the most important factors when determining where they choose to work, and more than half report they would switch jobs solely based on an employer's benefits.

In fact, three-quarters of the registered nurses surveyed say they would prefer to work for an employer that provides voluntary insurance policies, including insurance for short-term disability. Additionally, the vast majority of the randomly polled nurses (87 percent) believe that voluntary insurance is an important factor when evaluating a current or potential employer.

The survey findings come at a time when American hospitals are facing critical nursing shortages: The Journal of the American Medical Association(ii) has forecasted that by 2020, the number of registered nurses will fall short of demand by 20 percent.

"These findings underscore the positive response we've seen among employees with access to voluntary insurance," said Paul S. Amos II, president, Aflac; COO, U.S. Operations. "Not only can voluntary insurance help nurses manage their health care expenses, but it can also have a positive impact on hospitals' recruitment and retention efforts."

Other survey highlights include:

-- 66 percent of nurses say a voluntary insurance package would positively impact their decision to remain with an employer

-- 64 percent of nurses who currently have voluntary insurance policies are unwilling to go without them

-- 54 percent of nurses say that voluntary insurance would improve their benefits package

-- 89 percent of nurses believe that as health care costs rise in the coming years, voluntary insurance will become even more important

-- 47 percent would consider switching jobs if their new employer made voluntary insurance plans available

ABOUT AFLAC

For more than 50 years, Aflac products have given policyholders the opportunity to direct cash where it is needed most when a life-interrupting medical event causes financial challenges. Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force in Japan. Our insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million people worldwide. Aflac has been included in Fortune magazine's listing of America's Most Admired Companies for seven years and in Fortune magazine's list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for ten consecutive years. Aflac has also been recognized three times by both Fortune magazine's listing of the Top 50 Employers for Minorities and Working Mother magazine's listing of the 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit www.aflac.com.

i A telephone survey of 250 registered nurses who work in hospitals and receive benefits from their employer. The survey was conducted by StrategyOne on behalf of Aflac and has a margin of error of plus or minus 6.1%.

ii "Implications of an Aging Registered Nurse Workforce" The Journal of the American Medical Association, June 14, 2000

Media Contact:
Mechell Clark
Aflac
(706) 243-8004
meclark@aflac.com

SOURCE Aflac