Northern Kentucky University
Cutting Overtime Costs While Continuing to Provide Quality Nursing Care During the Shortage
Institution
Northern Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Judy Niemi
Abstract
Introduction: Hospitals in Northern Kentucky are battling overtime costs. Nursing shortages are jeopardizing patient care. Outpatient area staff are forced to stay after designated shift hours to finish the work from the day. Inpatient nurses are forced to finish their shifts late because of increasing paperwork and patient load. Admission forms are tedious, taking up to thirty minutes to complete. This doesn’t include initial physical assessments. Problem Statement: The majority of overtime in hospitals is directly related to nurses staying past their scheduled shifts to complete assignments. Research Question: Would changing shift hours and adding admission nurses decrease overtime costs while increasing nurse efficiency to complete daily assignments on time? Hypothesis: Overtime hours will decrease by changing shift hours in outpatient units and utilizing nurses with restrictions in inpatient units. Methodology: A Retrospective pilot study collecting overtime hour data comparing eight hour and ten hour shifts in a busy Cardiac Cath Lab (CCL) and gathering data from Transitional Care Unit (TCU) on the number of admissions and the time that could be saved using Admission RNs. Estimated costs of using Admission Nurses that are currently out on medical leave due to workers’ compensation restrictions and unable to perform the essential functions of their normal nursing positions will also be collected. Results will be completed and displayed on Posters-at-the-Capitol in Frankfort.
Cutting Overtime Costs While Continuing to Provide Quality Nursing Care During the Shortage
Introduction: Hospitals in Northern Kentucky are battling overtime costs. Nursing shortages are jeopardizing patient care. Outpatient area staff are forced to stay after designated shift hours to finish the work from the day. Inpatient nurses are forced to finish their shifts late because of increasing paperwork and patient load. Admission forms are tedious, taking up to thirty minutes to complete. This doesn’t include initial physical assessments. Problem Statement: The majority of overtime in hospitals is directly related to nurses staying past their scheduled shifts to complete assignments. Research Question: Would changing shift hours and adding admission nurses decrease overtime costs while increasing nurse efficiency to complete daily assignments on time? Hypothesis: Overtime hours will decrease by changing shift hours in outpatient units and utilizing nurses with restrictions in inpatient units. Methodology: A Retrospective pilot study collecting overtime hour data comparing eight hour and ten hour shifts in a busy Cardiac Cath Lab (CCL) and gathering data from Transitional Care Unit (TCU) on the number of admissions and the time that could be saved using Admission RNs. Estimated costs of using Admission Nurses that are currently out on medical leave due to workers’ compensation restrictions and unable to perform the essential functions of their normal nursing positions will also be collected. Results will be completed and displayed on Posters-at-the-Capitol in Frankfort.