Overtime, new grads help stretch staffing in hospital operating rooms

Staff shortages continue to challenge OR managers and directors, according to the 18th annual OR Manager Salary/Career Survey for 2008. In the eighth year the staffing questions have been asked, the percentage of open positions was unchanged for RNs, with positions open slightly longer than a year ago. Once again, nearly two-thirds of leaders (62%) said it was difficult to recruit RNs. The average number of open surgical technologist (ST) positions jumped to almost double the rate in 2006, although the turnover rate for STs was the lowest in the past 8 years.