New staffing structure builds on success of specialty team model
Less than a year after adopting a “college structure” model akin to that of specialty teams, the UF & Shands Academic Health Center in Gainesville, Florida, is close to achieving a goal of 100% on-time starts. “We track first-case start times, and a report goes out every morning, so we’ll…
Survey: Surgical volumes surge in midst of staffing woes
Takeaways It takes an average of 112 days to fill an open RN position and 130 days to fill an open ST position, according to survey results. Turnover rates have decreased slightly but remain high. Most OR leaders are finding it more difficult to recruit RNs and STs, compared to…
Is nurse staffing legislation in the public’s interest?
Editor's Note This study led by nurse researchers Linda Aiken, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Karen Lasater, PhD, RN, FAAN, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, finds that if New York state enacts nurse staffing legislation currently under consideration, many lives would be saved and shorter hospital stays…
Study: Is nurse staffing legislation needed in New York?
Editor's Note This study by nurse researcher Linda Aiken, PhD, RN, FAAN, and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, finds that the Safe Staffing for Quality Act under consideration by the New York state assembly would save lives, shorten hospital stays, reduce readmissions, and lower costs.…
Study could lead to more scrutiny of anesthesia staffing for GI cases
Who should be giving sedation to low-risk patients having colonoscopies and upper GI endoscopies? This question may get a new look with a large new study in the March 21, 2012, JAMA. Researchers found use of anesthesia services for these cases has more than doubled over 7 years, jumping from…
Value of hospital staffing with nurse practitioners
Editor's Note This study led by nurse researcher Linda H. Aiken, PhD, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, finds that having more nurse practitioners (NPs) in hospitals has favorable effects on patients, staff, and efficiency—adding value to labor resources. Data on 579 hospitals gleaned from nurse, patient,…
Nurses’ march to shine light on workplace violence, staffing
Editor's Note A peaceful nurses’ march protest, called United “Million” Nurses March and sponsored by Nurses Against Violence, is set to take place in Washington DC on May 12, according to HealthLeaders February 17. The protest is set to focus on two key issues plaguing the profession: workplace violence and…
OR directors striving to adjust staffing in a down economy
The lingering effects of the recession continue to affect OR staffing, according to results of the 20th annual OR Manager Salary/Career Survey. Like last year, most OR directors and managers (78% vs 80% in 2009) said the economic downturn has had an impact on staffing. But this year's results indicate…
Family & Medical Leave Act and OR staffing
OR managers are raising questions about the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). They say they try to be sympathetic to the needs of employees that the act is supposed to alleviate, but the prolonged leaves can cause staffing problems. Questions focus on the privacy requirements of the act.…
ASC staffing challenges continue
As health care facilities continue to face tight economics, the staffing picture of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) is much the same as last year. Compared to a year ago, most ASC managers say the number of open positions, staff turnover, and recruitment are about the same. There are few open…