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The statistics are alarming: in Polk County, nearly 75 percent of adults and over 40 percent of middle and high school students struggle with overweight or obesity issues.
This translates to a rising prevalence of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes—leading to preventable hospital stays that strain our healthcare system.
With such pressing health challenges, the demand for qualified healthcare professionals in Lakeland, FL, has never been greater.
Healthcare staffing in Lakeland, FL: Solved
As healthcare facilities in Lakeland, FL, strive to provide high-quality patient care, they face significant staffing challenges.
Factors such as last-minute call outs, seasonal surges in patient admissions, and unexpected emergencies create an urgent demand for flexible staffing solutions.
When staff shortages occur, the implications can be severe—longer wait times, increased pressure on remaining staff, and ultimately, compromised patient care.
Tackling healthcare staffing head-on
Healthcare facilities in Lakeland encounter systematic staffing challenges that can hinder their operations.
Fluctuating patient census
The patient population in Lakeland can shift dramatically, especially during peak seasons, leading to understaffing when healthcare facilities need to respond the most.
High staffing costs
Traditional staffing methods can be expensive, especially when facilities must pay overtime to existing staff or incur high fees from nurse staffing companies.
Administrative burdens
Working with traditional staffing agencies can involve extensive paperwork, lengthy onboarding processes, and regulatory compliance that takes valuable time away from patient care.
Local workforce dynamics
The healthcare workforce in Lakeland reflects a diverse community. With many residents speaking Spanish and other languages, the demand for bilingual or culturally competent nurses is critical to effective patient care.
Moreover, state regulations regarding licensing and compliance, including those from the Florida Board of Nursing, add another layer of complexity to staffing.
Retention challenges
The healthcare industry often grapples with high turnover rates among nursing staff. In long-term care, turnover can be especially disruptive, as residents benefit from continuity and strong relationships with their caregivers.
In hospitals, frequent staff changes add pressure to already demanding environments, impacting both efficiency and patient experience.
Choosing the right staffing strategy for your facility
Choosing the right healthcare staffing solution in Lakeland requires careful consideration. Facilities should evaluate their unique needs and identify a staffing strategy that is both effective and flexible. Here are some essential tips:
- Assess upfront costs: Understand the financial implications of adopting a new staffing strategy, including potential hidden costs often associated with traditional staffing agencies.
- Consider administrative hand-off: Ensure that the staffing solution minimizes your administrative burden while supporting compliance with local regulations and standards.
- Evaluate flexibility needs: Facilities should look for a staffing option that allows for quick adjustments based on patient needs, without locking into long-term commitments.
A breakdown of healthcare staffing options in Lakeland
Healthcare facilities have several nursing staffing solutions at their disposal. Here’s a breakdown of standard options:
Direct hire
Direct staff hiring brings consistency and strengthens your workplace culture, but relying on them alone can limit flexibility and increase overtime costs.
Traditional staffing agencies
While these companies provide access to a broad pool of nurses, they often have high fees and lengthy hiring processes. Additionally, there may be a lack of continuity in patient care.
Travel nurse contracts
Facilities can employ travel nurses for short-term assignments. However, the expenses associated with travel logistics and housing can be prohibitively high.
Per diem healthcare staffing
Per diem healthcare staffing allows facilities to hire nurses on an as-needed basis. While it offers flexibility, it may come with inconsistent quality and onboarding challenges.
Pairing a solid core team with more adaptable, cost-effective staffing solutions ensures you maintain both stability and agility. This protects your budget while keeping staff energized and patient care uninterrupted.
Nursa: Your partner in healthcare staffing
Nursa is revolutionizing how healthcare facilities approach staffing. Our PRN staffing platform allows facilities to access high-quality local healthcare professionals quickly and efficiently. Here’s how Nursa works:
1. Instant access to qualified nurses
Facilities can post shifts in real time, allowing local nurses to view and accept them instantly. This immediacy ensures that patient care remains uninterrupted, even in emergencies.
2. Streamlined credentialing
Nursa handles the necessary credentialing and background checks for all nurses picking up shifts with our platform, ensuring that facilities can trust the professionals they engage.
3. Flexible scheduling
Whether you need coverage for one shift or an entire week, Nursa gives you the flexibility to adapt to your staffing needs without the hassle of traditional staffing agencies.
4. Auto-scheduling
You can activate the Auto-Schedule feature, and the platform will automatically schedule the nurses on your “Favorites List”.
The scheduling becomes automatic for nurses you have already known on previous shifts and who you would like to bring back for future shifts.
5. Transparent pricing
With Nursa, facilities pay only for the shifts worked—eliminating the hidden costs associated with many nurse staffing agencies in Lakeland, FL.
By providing a healthcare staffing platform that connects facilities directly with PRN nurses in Lakeland, FL, Nursa offers a streamlined and efficient way to fill shifts. Unlike traditional nurse staffing agencies in the area, Nursa allows for direct connections between clinicians and facilities, making it a cost-effective choice.
A success story: PAM Health Hospital
To illustrate the real-world effect of Nursa, consider the case of Pam Health Hospital of Westminster, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation hospital in Colorado.
Facing significant staffing challenges amid the nationwide nursing shortage, the facility struggled to maintain coverage, especially as previous PRN providers proved unreliable. Clinicians often failed to show up, leaving administrators scrambling to cover shifts and full-time staff stretched thin.
Seeking a better solution, PAM Health turned to Nursa. The results were immediate: shifts were consistently filled, clinicians demonstrated professionalism and skill, and last-minute staffing needs were covered quickly.
Cancellations became rare and typically provided enough notice to repost shifts. The impact has been transformative. Nursa not only ensured patients received consistent, quality care, but also relieved pressure on PAM Health’s full-time staff.
“Using Nursa to fill empty shifts gives my full-time staff more relief and stability… less burned out, less stressed, and just overall happier,” - Katrina Butterfield, Assistant Chief Nursing Officer
Today, PAM Health relies on Nursa as a trusted partner to maintain safe staffing levels and improve staff morale.
Learn more about filling staffing gaps.
The value of on-demand staffing
On-demand staffing has emerged as a viable solution to address the specific needs of healthcare facilities. In Lakeland, many organizations are discovering the benefits of leveraging technology to manage medical staffing needs more effectively.
By integrating per diem healthcare staffing options, facilities can respond swiftly to fluctuating patient demands without the lengthy recruitment processes associated with traditional staffing.
Nursa’s platform empowers facilities to adapt quickly, ensuring that patient care is never compromised. The ease of posting shifts and the immediacy of connecting with qualified PRN nurses in Lakeland, FL, means that even last-minute staffing shortages can be handled with confidence.
Navigating local regulations and compliance
In Florida, healthcare facilities must adhere to specific regulations that govern nurse staffing. Understanding these local requirements can be daunting, especially when considering the varying needs of different facilities.
Compliance with the Florida Board of Nursing ensures that all engaged professionals meet the necessary qualifications and standards.
Nursa simplifies this process by maintaining up-to-date records and credentials for all nurses using the platform, allowing facilities to focus on patient care rather than paperwork.
This streamlined approach not only saves time but also helps mitigate risks associated with non-compliance.
Transform your staffing strategies with Nursa
Healthcare staffing in Lakeland, FL, requires innovative solutions to meet the growing demands of patient care. In long-term care, effective staffing strategies protect vulnerable populations while maintaining compliance and safety standards.
In hospitals, the right mix of stability and flexibility ensures that facilities can adapt quickly without sacrificing the quality of care patients deserve.
Nursa offers an effective alternative to traditional staffing methods, providing facilities with the flexibility and efficiency they need to thrive in a challenging environment.
Are you ready to transform your staffing strategy? Join Nursa today and experience seamless on-demand staffing that keeps your facility running smoothly.
Sign up to get started with Nursa.
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