Chief operating officer Vivian Blake told the hospital advisory committee that while the board had active recruitment programmes, they were exploring ways to "try and retain the staff that we have".
The buddy programme would be trialled in some services during the next three months.
A buddy would be assigned to new employees for their first two months and would help to strengthen their "bond" with the organisation, Mrs Blake said in a report.
The reward and recognition programme would recognise length of service, acknowledge achievements of individuals and teams, and acknowledge "extraordinary events".
Another initiative, which invited staff to make suggestions to solve problems they had noticed, received 116 responses.
Ideas ranged from having ACC case managers on site, to upgrading showers and having notices at each lift directing people to the stairs if they were only going up one or two flights.
