Arizona is facing a severe shortage of nurses; a shortfall of as many as 30,000 by 2025. Hospitals and healthcare facilities in Apache Junction, part of the third-most populous county of the state, are facing immense challenges not only in nurse recruitment but in meeting the day-to-day scheduling needs in order to provide quality patient care. This means they need flexible staffing solutions now.
Nursa's PRN staffing is the best solution for your Apache Junction, Arizona, hospital or healthcare facility. Keep reading to learn why.
Challenges for Hospitals and Facilities in Apache Junction
Healthcare administrators face two main problems: an older population and a nursing shortage.
According to a report by Pinal County, Banner Health, and Sun Life Family Health Center, one big challenge for the county is its population size, which is one of the largest in the state. Furthermore, Pinal County has an older population than average in Arizona. Fifty-seven percent of the population is 35 years and older, and 20.3 percent is aged 65 and older (greater than the national rate of 16 percent). This data reflects a reality that is developing into a significant staffing problem for hospitals and healthcare facilities: a greater demand for healthcare services to meet the population's needs, which in turn complicates hiring nurses in Apache Junction.
An older population translates into an increasing demand for nurses in long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and assisted living facilities. The increasing demand for nurses is expected to continue through the next several years.
Additionally, there was already a nursing shortage before the pandemic. During the pandemic, this shortage was exacerbated by nurse burnout, early retirement, and nurse turnover. According to Health Affairs, the national supply of registered nurses in 2021 decreased by more than 100,000 in one year, constituting the greatest observed drop over the past four decades.
There are only 85,450 nurses and nursing assistants in Arizona, including registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). However, Arizona is also the 14th most populous state in the US, with 7.5 million people. Evidently, there are not enough nursing professionals in Arizona to meet the population's healthcare needs. Nursa research shows healthcare executives and CFOs identify nurse staffing as a significant challenge.
Staffing Solutions in Apache Junction with Nursa
Nursa is a healthcare staffing platform that leverages technology to connect hospitals and healthcare facilities with local nursing clinicians to meet their staffing needs in real time.
With Nursa, Apache Junction facilities can find local PRN registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), certified nursing assistants (CNAs), and caregivers (CGs) who are willing to pick up shifts.
PRN stands for the Latin term "pro re nata," which means "as needed." PRN clinicians are contracted for shifts on demand. So when hospitals in Apache Junction have staffing gaps due to vacancies, staff call-offs, nurse turnover, or even employee scheduled time off, they can fill those gaps.
Understaffing can affect the quality of patient care in any healthcare setting. Hence, sourcing nurses on demand is a flexible and affordable way to maintain safe nurse-patient ratios and relieve the burden of extra work on your internal staff.
Solve Acute and Post-Acute Staffing Needs
Long-term care facilities and hospitals can post PRN shifts on Nursa.
Long-term care, often referred to as "post-acute" facilities, includes nursing homes, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, memory care, and others. Acute care includes hospitals and long-term acute care hospitals, or LTACHs.
How to Find Nursing Clinicians Now
Register your facility with Nursa and follow the prompts to start sourcing local nursing clinicians for your staffing needs. There are many benefits to using Nursa as a staffing solution; here's a summary of a few favorites:
- Immediate staffing needs: Post your immediate and short-term shift needs for clinicians. Nursa clinicians that request shifts have been vetted.
- Nurse recruitment: Nursa doesn't charge hire-away fees. This means you can use Nursa to "try out" nursing clinicians, and if they're a good fit, offer them in-house staff positions without complaint—or extra charge—from Nursa.
- Flexible: Avoid overstaffing or understaffing by using Nursa to augment your staffing numbers only when you need them.
- Affordable: Nursa is not a subscription service, and there is no quota for how often or how many shifts you use Nursa to fill. PRN shifts are free to post, your facility only pays only for shifts worked.
Register with Nursa Today to Source Local Clinicians
Staffing challenges require adaptable staffing solutions, ones that are offered by Nursa. Don't wait, set up your facility's profile and start posting PRN shifts for local nursing clinicians today.
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