Autumn brings cooler weather and, with it, illnesses. It is the season when the flu peaks and typically overwhelms hospitals. Add to this the exacerbation of ailments such as asthma, heart disease, COPD, and others, and staffing becomes a severe concern.
Developing a strategic staffing solution with travel nurses is an effective way to meet the coming staffing shortages. Travel nurses provide healthcare facilities with flexibility, expertise, cost-effectiveness, and continuity of care.
You start by anticipating the demand and ensuring you know your staffing needs. Then, partner with a staffing agency for the best travel nurses, develop an efficient onboarding program, and continuously monitor staffing levels.
Anticipate the Demand
To predict vacancies this coming fall, you must consider your current open positions and factors such as:
- Vacation leaves
- Maternity leaves
- Flu trends
- Chronic illness prevalence
- Other seasonal health issues
Next, historical data and attendance logs will be analyzed, and reports will be generated to gain foresight into potential nurse staffing shortages. A strategy that meets unforeseen needs on top of open vacancies will help with staffing. A plan that includes travel nurses can help your facility meet staffing requirements and handle seasonal spikes in the patient census.
Understand Staffing Needs
You must assess the current nursing performance. Are there problems with hiring or turnover? Are there any noticeable skills gaps? Are there enough nurses in certain specialties? Evaluate the current situation and try to spot potential gaps. Next, calculate the number of travel nurses to supplement your current staff.
Partner With a Staffing Agency
The fastest way to find qualified nurses who match your facility’s needs is by partnering with a reputable healthcare staffing agency specializing in travel nursing. There are multiple benefits for your healthcare facility, including:
- Adequate staffing
- Extra help for seasonal spikes in patient census
- Extra help during a crisis
- Filling high-skill roles
- Controlling workforce costs
Develop a Process for Onboarding
As things get busy this fall, ensure that travel nurses are informed about their roles and expectations before they arrive. Detailed job descriptions can help. Consider streamlining your documentation process to make it more efficient. Ensure all paperwork, credentials, and compliance checks are completed before the nurse starts work. Digital onboarding tools can be a tremendous help. Customize orientation to include essential information such as facility layout, emergency procedures, and key contacts to help travel nurses adapt quickly.
Monitor Staffing Continuously
This fall, it is vital that your healthcare facility monitor patient volume and staffing levels. You must also be ready to adjust quickly. Ensure your facility is prepared to adapt its travel nurse staffing plan to address unexpected patient census changes.
Partner with a Trusted Staffing Agency
ADN Healthcare is ready to help your facility with its Autumn staffing needs.
