Evaluating New Roles for a More Efficient Staffing Model to Address the Nursing Shortage

Abstract

Staffing challenges in healthcare have been a longstanding issue, leading to severe shortages within healthcare organizations. The identified problem for this evidence-based project was high nursing staff vacancy rates in an academic regional medical center. A literature review indicated the potential benefits of introducing unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) roles, to address staffing shortages. Using a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework, this quality improvement project was implemented over a four-month period. The project aimed to evaluate the impact of integrating these roles on staff vacancy rates, job satisfaction, patient falls, and cost-effectiveness. Results demonstrated a substantial reduction in Registered Nurse (RN) and Nursing Assistant (NA) vacancy rates, improved staff satisfaction, and a notable decrease in patient falls. However, the financial impact varied, with cost savings achieved during night shifts through effective use of UAP, while day shift costs increased due to using the new UAP role. The discoveries reveal the importance of strategic role deployment and suggest that UAP roles can enhance staffing efficiency and patient care quality. Further research is recommended to refine these roles and optimize their integration into healthcare settings.