The survey, released in early 2022 when COVID-19 and its multiple variants were raging on, was intended to provide a snapshot of a point in time on the “current state” and the future state of nursing labor models across care settings and how those models may shift.
The survey results show a disconnect between the ongoing challenges healthcare facilities acknowledge they have and the plans they have in place to change. In addition to survey findings, the report provides a roadmap of the urgent and meaningful actions healthcare organizations must take to make sustainable change.
What did nursing leaders say is on their minds?
Looking beyond RNs
There are not enough RNs to provide care. The work of RNs will be redefined and LPNs and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs) will be used in higher proportions when possible to reduce the need for and strain on RNs.
Answering staffing challenges with float pools
At least 50% of the acute and ambulatory settings surveyed currently used float pools. Post-acute settings were most likely to operate a float pool across one facility (66%), with 45% most likely to indicate their float pools operated across their entire health system. Over 70% of those surveyed will expand their float pools to increase staffing agility.
Informing shift coverage with competency
Up to 81% of respondents in each of the three settings indicated that having competency inform their nurse staffing/scheduling patterns during the next 18 months will be important/very important.
