Study to Determine the Best Method to Supplement the Staffing of the Department of Nursing during Periods of Sudden Peak Workload at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas

摘要

Providing adequate staffing is one of the most persistent and important concerns faced by the Chief, Department of Nursing. Historically, there has been a shortage of nurses in the United States, something officials point to as the cause of staffing problems at their own institutions. Many civilian hospitals have adapted to this shortage by instituting various supplemental staffing methods. This study explores the method used at Beaumont to supplement its staff during periods of temporarily increased workloads. It recommends establishing an in-hospital Registry of Intermittent Registered Nurses. This pool of RNs would be used on a temporary, as needed basis to staff the medical, surgical nursing units whenever sudden increases in workload necessitated it. Keywords: Health care; Nurse staffing; Military medicine; Medical service. (SDW)