Skip to content
Skip to content
Open navigation

Nurse Staffing Task Force

 

Download the Think Tank Gap Analysis Worksheet

Read Think Tank Recommendations

Read Nurse Staffing Task Force Recommendations 

 
BECAUSE SAFE NURSE STAFFING SAVES LIVES

 

Exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the nurse staffing crisis threatens the health and well-being of patients, our nation’s nurses, and the entire health care system. Driven to build upon the recommendations of the Nurse Staffing Think Tank, the Nurse Staffing Task Force was formed to develop evidence-based, nursing-led solutions addressing the root causes of the staffing crisis. Read a summary of the recommendations below.

 

Determining a Future with Safe Staffing

The Nurse Staffing Task Force developed recommendations to support appropriate staffing across acute and critical care practice settings. The recommendations seek to support the nursing workforce through long-term sustainable change. They also support and sustain a healthy work environment through guidelines for appropriate staffing that correlates with nurse satisfaction, quality of care, and patient safety outcomes.

 

 

Definition of Appropriate Nurse Staffing

Task Force members developed and agreed on the following definition of appropriate nurse staffing:

“Appropriate staffing is a dynamic process that aligns the number of nurses, their workload, expertise, and resources with patient needs in order to achieve quality patient outcomes within a healthy work environment.“ 

 

Guiding Principles Towards a Future for Our Nursing Workforce 

The Task Force agreed on five guiding principles to serve as guideposts while developing contemporary and progressive pathways toward a new nursing workforce.

SAFE  |  ACCOUNTABLE  |  TRANSFORMATIVE  |  EQUITABLE  |  COLLABORATIVE

Strategies to address the nurse staffing crisis will be nurse-driven with continuous measurement for success, using an agile approach to innovation and change to accomplish intended results and outcomes.

There is the firm belief that regulation alone will not solve the nurse staffing crisis. However, a fail-safe mechanism is established when efforts are supported by proper and effective rule-making that allow nurses and nurse leaders to succeed in coming together to the table where key discussions are being held. In doing so, nurses and nurse leaders retain their ability to lead and innovate solutions to address the nurse staffing crisis.

download the  NURSE STAFFING TASK FORCE: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TABLE

 

About the Nurse Staffing Task Force & Think Tank 

Five leading organizations came together as the Partners for Nurse Staffing and convened the Nurse Staffing Task Force. 

The Partners for Nurse Staffing realized the importance of allowing diverse voices from across the nursing profession and healthcare the opportunity to share their views on this crisis. Together, they connected nurses of various backgrounds – from the bedside to the boardroom – with other healthcare and workforce experts with a shared vision of driving solutions to address the nurse staffing shortage.

 

THE NURSE STAFFING THINK TANK – Short-Term Recommendations 

In January 2022, the Nurse Staffing Think Tank was called together to develop short term actionable strategies with measurable outcomes that nurse leaders and organizations could implement within 12—18 months.

These recommendations addressed the following areas:

  • Healthy work environments
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
  • Work schedule flexibility
  • Stress injury continuum
  • Innovative care delivery models
  • Total compensation

LEARN MORE about the Think Tank Recommendations

 
THE NURSE STAFFING TASK FORCE – Long-Term Recommendations

After the release of the Think Tank recommendations, the Task Force began working on long-term solutions to the nurse staffing crisis in April 2022.

Task Force members included representatives from professional organizations and stakeholders at the national and state level, representing a broad spectrum of acute and critical care nurse specialties and practice settings. 

The Task Force provided a national forum to facilitate dialogue, drive innovative solutions that are consistent with appropriate staffing, and address critical issues of the nurse staffing crisis. Insight was heard from internal and external stakeholders. They shared insight on the impact staffing challenges have on nurses' morale, the work environment, the health and wellness of communities they serve, and the health system overall. 

download the full Task Force Recommendations 

 

Addressing Staffing is Critial to Ensuring Quality Nursing Care  

The evidence strongly suggests appropriate nurse staffing benefits both nurses and patients. Nursing care has a direct impact on the overall quality of health care services. With appropriate staffing levels, there are reductions in:

  • Patient mortality rates
  • Hospital length of stay
  • Readmission rates
  • Preventable health care associated injuries and adverse events (ie. falls, hospital-acquired infections and pressure injuries)

 

Safe Staffing Reduces Nurse Burnout & Fatigue, Increases Patient Satisfaction, and Reduces Hospital Costs

Appropriate staffing levels allow nurses to practice to the full extent of their licensure and expertise and allow nurses to provide quality nursing care to their patients.

Appropriate staffing also reduces nurse fatigue, burnout, and turnover rates. Improved nurse retention increases nursing expertise, which is essential to the care of complex patient needs.

Patients benefit by having experienced nurses caring for them. Nurses benefit by reducing fatigue that may lead to errors and patient harm. Hospital organizations benefit from improved nurse retention through reduced costs associated with hiring and orienting new nurses.

 

read more about the nurse staffing crisis

 

For questions or to stay updated, email practice@ana.org

 

Download the Think Tank Gap Analysis Worksheet

Read Think Tank Recommendations

Read Nurse Staffing Task Force Recommendations 

 

 

You are now leaving the American Nurses Foundation

The American Nurses Foundation is a separate charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation does not engage in political campaign activities or communications.

The Foundation expressly disclaims any political views or communications published on or accessible from this website.

Continue Cancel

Item(s) added to cart

Go to cart Continue Shopping