LUNCH ON US Everyone loves a free meal.

It's never been more vital to retain your experienced nurses. In just the same fashion as they came, Baby Boomer nurses are leaving the workforce in droves. About one-fourth of all nurses over the age of 54 plan to retire within a year, according to estimates. From someone who recruits nurses for surgical centers and hospitals, here are 7 simple ways to make your nurses feel more appreciated — and maybe make them forget about retiring for a while.

1Say thank you ... publicly. Everyone loves to be recognized, especially in front of their peers. A private thank you is nice, but a group email or a shout-out in a staff meeting packs more of a punch.

2Order personalized mugs. Buy everyone a monogrammed coffee mug with their initials on it, so every time they take a sip, they think of you. With printing sites all over the web, giving a gift like this one is easier than ever.

3Hold a nurse-of-the-month contest. Having an award to vote on every month is a great way to strengthen the bonds of your nurses and keep them focused on the positive aspects of patient care. Ask everyone to submit an anonymous ballot with a written explanation to back up their votes. At the end of the month, announce the winner and read why her peers voted for her.

4Cater a meal. Buying lunch for the staff every now and then can go a long way. Ordering trays of food and sandwiches is a great way to demonstrate that you notice their hard work. Plus, who doesn't love a free meal?

5Host quarterly, off-site meetings. Take the time to take your staff away from the OR and meet as peers and friends. Use outside environments to establish stronger bonds between co-workers and help them relax around their bosses and supervisors. Activities like hiking or rock-climbing make for great team-building exercises and give everyone the opportunity to let their hair down a little without the added pressure of being at work.

JUST FOR YOU A personalized gift card shows you took the time to care.

6Sponsor events. Open up the invite to friends and family of your staff and host fun events outside of work, like bowling parties or picnics. To save time, tie the events to your quarterly, off-site meetings, but set aside enough time for team bonding before friends and family join the party.

7Give the gift of a gift card. Not only are you going out of your way to say thank you with a personalized gift card, but you're also personalizing the gift to show that you know what your nurses enjoy doing outside of work. Some might enjoy a card to their favorite coffee shop. Some might love going to the movies. Whatever it is, listen to your team and make the gift something a little more personal to them. OSM