Staffing in healthcare organizations refers to the process of hiring and managing professionals to provide high-quality patient care in a variety of healthcare settings. A shortage of healthcare workers, particularly nurses and physicians, leads to high burnout rates, increased workload for remaining staff, potential patient safety risks, and overall decreased quality of care due to factors like long hours, stressful work environments, and inadequate staffing levels.
Here are some statistics about the healthcare staffing shortage in the United States:
- Nurses: The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the US will face a shortage of 195,400 nurses by 2031.
- Primary care physicians: The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (NCHWA) projects a shortage of 87,150 primary care physicians by 2037.
- Home and personal health aides: The number of openings for these positions is projected to increase 37% by 2028.
- Nurse assistants: The shortage of nurse assistants (NAs) may be severe.
- Nursing schools: In 2023, US nursing schools turned away 65,766 qualified applications due to a lack of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, and budget constraints.
- Pandemic impact: The COVID-19 pandemic increased demand for healthcare services and created new challenges, such as burnout and safety concerns.
- Healthcare employment: Healthcare employment remains below pre-pandemic levels, with the number of workers down by 1.1% compared to February 2020.
The impact of the shortage will be uneven, with some states seeing surpluses and others seeing shortages. The states that will see the largest projected shortages are New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Georgia.
What are some of the key aspects of healthcare staffing issues?
First, the demanding nature of healthcare jobs, including long shifts and high stress, often leads to burnout among healthcare workers, causing them to leave their positions frequently. Then we have an aging healthcare workforce, with many nurses nearing retirement, contributing to a potential shortage of skilled healthcare professionals. Along with the aging workforce, we have healthcare workers often having to care for a higher number of patients than is considered optimal, impacting the quality of care and leading to increased risks of medication errors, complications, and delayed care, potentially compromising patient safety. Finally, difficulty in scheduling time off, long working hours, and irregular shifts can further contribute to burnout and staff turnover.
What can we do to address healthcare staffing issues?
We can implement flexible scheduling options, provide adequate time off, and promote healthy work-life balance initiatives. Offer career advancement opportunities, mentorship programs, and recognition for healthcare workers to improve job satisfaction. Implement strategies to attract more individuals to healthcare careers, such as scholarships and targeted recruitment campaigns. Employ technology to streamline workflows, reduce administrative burdens, and improve efficiency for healthcare workers and finally, prioritizing workforce planning to optimize efficiency across the system.
Here are some strategies to consider when looking at staffing issues.
- Offer competitive salaries, signing bonuses, student loan repayment programs, and comprehensive benefits packages to attract and retain healthcare workers.
- Provide options like part-time work, staggered shifts, and flexible hours to accommodate personal needs and improve work-life balance.
- Train staff to perform tasks across different roles, enabling them to fill gaps when needed and increase workforce adaptability.
- Utilize telemedicine services to provide remote patient care, potentially reducing the need for in-person appointments and easing workload pressure on staff.
- Foster a supportive and positive work culture with open communication, recognition programs, and addressing staff concerns to boost morale and retention.
- Implement strategies to attract diverse candidates from different demographics and geographic locations, including utilizing targeted marketing campaigns.
- Analyze staffing needs proactively, identify areas for improvement, and implement efficient scheduling practices to manage workload effectively.
- Support continuing education, career advancement opportunities, and accelerated training programs for existing staff and new hires.
- Employ temporary travel nurses to fill short-term staffing gaps during peak demand periods.
- Leverage technology to streamline workflows, automate tasks, and enhance patient care, potentially reducing staff burnout.
In summary, we now know what the statistics are saying, we know the contributing factors related to staffing shortages, and we now need to look at the strategies mentioned above and see what will work in your organization. Organizations need to engage leadership, managers, and key policymakers to address the systemic challenges impacting the healthcare workforce. Managers need to have the necessary skills to create a positive work environment, effectively address staff concerns, and promote team collaboration. Organizations need to implement strategies to mitigate stress, such as improved workload management and access to mental health resources. All this said, our staff will be happier and more effective, and most importantly, our patients will be in safe hands.
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (NCHWA)
- Practice Management & Growth. Innovative Solutions to the Healthcare Worker Shortage Crisis, Mike Battista, Director of Science & Research, 6/25/2024.
- Executive Network, Critical Condition: A Four-Part Plan to Solve the Dire Shortage of Health Care Workers, Ben Frasier, SHRM-SCP, November 8, 2022.
- How to Manage a Staffing Shortage? Understanding the Impact of Staff Shortage, Josh Ternyak, January 14, 2024.
- 9 Effective Strategies to Overcome the Nurse Staffing Shortage, Troy Hyde, Jan 15, 2024
For questions or to learn more contact the C&A team at 704-573-4535 or email us at info@courtemanche-assocs.com.
Courtemanche & Associates specializes in Healthcare Accreditation and Regulatory Compliance Consulting Services. With over 30 years of being in business and 100+ years of healthcare experience amongst our consulting team, we are ready to assist with your accreditation and regulatory compliance needs.
