It’s only the beginning of the new year, and we’re already reading reports about hospitals grappling with rising turnover. Almost a quarter of US Hospitals reported critical staffing shortages in early January. There’s also growing concern about staff members calling in sick because they’re getting infected with omicron or other seasonal illnesses like flu or common cold. Another report by the International Council of Nurses found that the world could be short of 13 million nurses by 2030 unless we take drastic steps to encourage the younger generation to take up healthcare.
The staffing crisis adds to the strain on hospital administration, affects patient care, and contributes to staff burnout. Nurses, in particular, have been the worst affected. But physicians, too, have experienced high levels of burnout. A recent survey found that the burnout rate increased sharply in the second to the third quarter of 2021 when the delta variant took hold.
Not surprisingly, there were a number of strikes from healthcare workers, including one at a Massachusetts hospital where 800 nurses went on strike, demanding better working conditions. Their demands included shorter work hours, safer staffing measures, a better nurse-to-patient ratio, and better wages.
Hospitals must initiate and develop best practices to create a better work environment for staff and ensure better patient care. We’ve listed some for you below:
At PX3, we are here to help you with recruitment and retention. Call us at 925-948-8749 or connect via LinkedIn for a quick chat.