Like with the $28/hr, that amounts to $336. Over the course of a year, that's spread out $0.168/hr. What if the employer offered a permanent pay raise of $0.20/hr? Over the course of the coming years, that could amount to a lot more than $336, but I doubt nurses are thinking long term like that and the bean counters would be.

It may actually be in the best interest of the hospitals to do that considering they're strapped for cash right now, but not necessarily in the future. It would kind of act like a retention incentive since the extra pay only pays off if you stay long term, which nurses aren't doing right now.