3018 - Innovative Solutions to Optimize Staffing Resources in the Perioperative Environment

Overview/Abstract: Navigating today’s dynamic healthcare environment is compounded by staffing shortages and increasing staff turnover. Recruiting and retaining nurses in a very competitive environment can be very challenging. Ensuring staffing resources and competencies align with increasing patient acuity and the complexity of OR and procedural schedules is essential. Innovative solutions to mitigate staffing barriers must enhance operational efficiencies, cultivate teamwork and sense of belonging, and optimize patient outcomes. The most ideal staffing solutions must ensure high quality care at an affordable cost. The leadership team at this academic medical center created a specialized staffing resource pool to leverage clinical coverage across the health system, individualized for three departments: Preop/PACU, OR, and Procedural Units. The resource pools created flexible scheduling patterns with distinct criteria to complement each unit’s staffing model. The resource pool nurses were cross trained to work in designated specialty areas across the system based on short term and long-term assignments. In exchange for a premium in pay, the pool nurses were assigned to the unit based on need and were accountable to same scheduling guidelines including on-call and weekend coverage. Inherent in the model was the sense of support and teamwork among the unit staff and resource pool staff based on trust and clinical credibility. Implementation of the staffing resource pool resulted in cost savings with the reduction of temporary labor and overtime, a decrease in staff turnover, and became a means for recruiting top talent to the organization.