Last-minute shift changes, or worse, call-offs, can be highly inconvenient for hospital administrators, managers, and schedulers. When a nurse cannot work a shift due to illness, travel, or general time-off requests, the absence can lead to staffing shortages and compromise patient care.
Additionally, canceled nursing shifts can contribute to nurse burnout and job dissatisfaction, leading to higher turnover rates. Does this sound like a staffing headache? That’s because it is. Luckily, there’s hope. This article is for you if you are a nursing manager or scheduler. Here’s how facilities nationwide are filling critical shifts fast and getting the coverage they need with Nursa.
Why Is Adequate Healthcare Staffing Important?
One of the fundamental components of a successfully managed healthcare facility is having a safe nurse-to-patient ratio. In a perfect world, managers and schedulers wouldn’t have to worry about adequately staffing their facilities. There would always be enough extra nurses and nursing assistants to move around in order to fill in the gaps.
In reality, the nursing shortage has ensued since WWII, and industry experts estimate that these shortages will only increase and become more profound in the coming years. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the demand for registered nurses will surpass 3.6 million by 2030. In addition, a report by the U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2030, baby boomers will be at least 65 years old, requiring more healthcare services as they age. This greater need for medical care, in turn, could intensify the nursing shortage.
Furthermore, research shows that inadequate healthcare staffing can have serious consequences. When a facility is inadequately staffed, the following results could potentially occur:
- Longer wait times for patients
- Higher rates of infection
- Increased patient falls
- Medication errors
- Increased racial disparities
- Nurse fatigue and burnout
- Higher nurse turnover rates
On the other hand, when healthcare facilities have enough clinicians, they may expect the following outcomes:
- Reduced medication errors
- Improved patient outcomes
- Lower rates of nurse fatigue and burnout
- Better nurse retention
- Higher job satisfaction
So, how can facilities solve staffing issues in nursing? While curbing staffing challenges throughout the US will likely take a multifaceted approach, such as increasing nursing programs nationwide and promoting a healthy and positive workplace, there is something hospital administration can do in the meantime. Enter per diem staffing apps.
What Is Per Diem?
In healthcare, per diem refers to nurses and nursing assistants who work as needed, usually filling in for absent staff or during peak periods—i.e., the holidays or patient surges. One of the best things about per diem nursing is that it connects nurses with facilities that need help filling critical shifts while giving nurses more flexible schedules. In essence, per diem nursing jobs benefit both hospitals and nurses by helping close clinician coverage gaps and providing high-paying, flexible shifts for nurses.
While many healthcare facilities may feel compelled to rely on costly staffing agencies or recruiters to find nurses, CNAs, and other healthcare professionals on short notice, these recruiting methods can be tedious, time-consuming, and expensive. Now, more and more schedulers are taking advantage of per diem nursing apps, such as Nursa, to fill gaps in coverage quickly and efficiently.
Let’s take a look at how per diem staffing apps are helping healthcare facilities find and contract nurses with one of the most effective staffing tactics available today.
Filling Shifts Fast with Nursa
Whether you are a facility scheduler, nurse manager, or another member of the hospital administration team, nothing rings sweeter to the ears than having an appropriate number of nurses available to care for patients. Why? Minimum staffing levels are required to ensure patient safety since adequate nurse-to-patient staffing ratios ensure all patients receive the best care possible.
From filling day shifts to graveyard shifts (a.k.a. night shifts), per diem healthcare staffing apps like Nursa can help overcome staffing shortages in the industry around the clock. While finding night shift nurses can be challenging for hospitals and other medical facilities, per diem nurses looking for extra work are often happy to pick up graveyard shifts as long as the pay is attractive.
Here’s a look at how Nursa works and how facilities can use it to fill shifts with competent nurses in as little as 24 hours—or even in a matter of minutes:
- Register and connect your facility: Facility schedulers, DONs, RCCs, administrators, and supervisors can all sign up for a facility account.
- Create a compliance list: Create a list of requirements for nurses to work at your facility, such as specific licenses and certifications. This list can make it easier for you to bring in qualified clinicians for the shift.
- Start posting shifts: Post one or as many shifts as needed. When a shift is posted, a notification message is sent to all qualified clinicians in the area, informing them of the new position.
- Manage requests and schedule shifts: Once clinicians request your jobs, you can begin accepting, managing, and scheduling shifts that best fit your facility’s needs.
That’s it! It’s that easy. The best part about Nursa is that you may be able to fill shifts in minutes.
Why Choose Per Diem Nursing
If it isn’t apparent by now, per diem nursing can help facilities get the coverage they need cost-effectively and efficiently. So, whether you are a nurse manager scurrying around to fill night shifts or find last-minute coverage, PRN nursing jobs can alleviate staffing shortages. Additionally, per diem nurses offer adaptability and availability that isn't always easy to find.
It’s never been simpler to fill crucial nursing shifts than when PRN nursing and technology are combined. The benefits of using a per diem staffing app help everyone involved. Per diem jobs offer nurses the advantage of finding shifts with competitive pay and flexibility while providing facilities with a quick turnaround for finding nurses to fill in for shifts. It’s a win-win situation for both sides.
Per Diem Staffing Apps: The Bottom Line
What do you get when you mix qualified clinicians with an efficient per diem staffing app? A new-age solution for filling staffing gaps—fast. The truth is that nurse shortages aren’t going anywhere. Facility schedulers and hospital administration can mitigate staff shortages by using Nursa.
Are you looking for immediate coverage? Sign up today and post your last-minute shifts on Nursa.
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