It’s no secret that there’s been a monumental uptick in COVID cases as the winter closes in. Of course, this challenge coupled with the seasonal rise in flu cases can mean higher-than-normal staffing shortages. That’s why it’s critical to create a response plan so that your clinic can handle anything winter throws at you.
What Factors Are Causing Staffing Shortages in the Medical Field?
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), “nursing school enrollment is not growing fast enough to meet the projected demand for RN and APRN services,” and the number of nurses approaching retirement is also a significant factor (AACN Fact Sheet).
Of course, with the impact of rising COVID cases, nurses are feeling the pressure of insufficient staffing, “raising [their] stress level […], impacting job satisfaction, and driving many nurses to leave the profession.” (AACN Fact Sheet). And, “as nurses and doctors themselves fall sick or have to quarantine after being exposed to infected people,” medical facilities are feeling the impact of the surge in COVID cases (STAT Health).
What Can Healthcare Facilities Do to Prepare?
Although staffing shortages can be daunting, there are some steps that you can take to mitigate the stress on your team:
- Focus on high-priority assignments and delegate low-priority duties to those who can take on the extra responsibilities.
- Support your team with kindness, compassion, and solid leadership. When times are tough, your team needs to know you see them and that you’ll be strong despite the shortage.
- Recruit more staff members. Of course, this is an obvious step to take if it’s doable, but your budget may inhibit your ability to take on several more staff.
When it comes to your staffing shortage, Express Health Care Professionals is here to help. Let your local Express team do the recruiting while you focus on your patients. To learn more about potential candidates to reduce your staffing shortage, contact us here.