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Seven Ways That Nurse Staffing Impacts Profitability

The health care industry is constantly looking for ways to improve not only service, but also profitability. With the rising cost of health care, hospitals and clinics need to make sure they are doing everything in their power to cut costs without affecting the quality of care.

  1. Patient Opinion

    • Because nurses typically spend the most time with patients, it is vital to have the best nursing staff possible. If patients have a good experience, they are more likely to come back for future care and refer their friends.

    Staffing Ratios

    • Although one of the most costly aspects of running a health care facility is staffing, research has shown that higher nurse-to-patient ratios keeps the nurses from leaving in search of better working conditions, which leads to better trained nurses and less spending on training for new employees.

    Patient Care

    • With better qualified nurses, patients receive better care. They are more likely to recover quickly, and less likely to be readmitted because they have been properly prepared and educated when they leave.

    Utilizing Nurses' Skills

    • Many health care facilities are using its nurses for tasks that a less-specialized employee could do easily such as changing sheets, doing paperwork and serving meals. By hiring employees that don't need to have the same education and certification as nurses for these tasks, hospitals and clinics can save money and utilize their nurses more effectively.

    Alignment

    • Financial operators and nurses don't often see eye to eye. It is important to establish alignment within the facility so that the nurses understand the financial situation while the CFOs understand the nurses' issues. Goals should be set for both excellent service as well as profitability.

    Respect

    • Nurses should be respected. When a nurse feels she is respected and understood, she is more likely to do a better job. Respect nurses' training, their opinions and their time.

    Mentoring

    • Many hospitals and clinics are implementing mentoring programs with their nursing staffs. They pair up a seasoned employee with a new nurse. The experienced nurses demonstrate the behavior the health care facility expects so the new nurses can see what is expected of them. When a mentoring program is implemented properly, the anticipated benefits and outcomes are tied directly to a company's profits.

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