What's Next - Research from Subject Matter Experts
While there is no one size fits all answer to address the nursing shortage, here are some ideas for consideration from subject matter experts around the Country.
Artificial Intelligence
There's a real, and untapped, opportunity for artificial intelligence (AI) and automation to alleviate the burden on nurses and help them focus on top-of-license care. Leaders must start using technology to optimize nurses' time if they want to keep up with care demand under the current staffing resources.
- Automation takes on rote administrative tasks to increase efficiency and reduce manual errors.
- AI supports nurses to make faster, equally accurate clinical decisions.
- Automated triaging helps nurses focus on high acuity cases.
Suggested Reading
- 3 ways AI can help nurses by Allyson Paiewonsky, MPH, Senior Research Analyst
Gig Nursing
Gig nursing? What is it? Maybe you are just learning about the Gig economy and now you hear about Gig nursing. Gig nursing is simply a way to offer flexibility with nursing schedules and positions using technology and AI. Imagine a health system putting their own nursing positions into an app that any nurse can access. If the day and hours are right for the nurse who accesses the app and looks at the open shifts, they click on the one that is right for them and sign up for it.
Of course, that nurse is registered with the organization that maintains the app and is vetted through them. But once nurses are oriented to a facility or system, they are free agents signing up for shifts that work for them. They are contract employees with no benefits, but they have the ability to set their own schedules and work when and where they want. Employee satisfaction is evident with this type of employment and satisfied and engaged nurses mean better patient care. To learn more about Gig nursing, read the Fighting to Find Nurses article linked below to read about the experience at Mercy Health, they have seen tremendous results in the past year.
Suggested Reading
- The Gig Economy Has Arrived in the World of Nursing by Chris Caulfield, RN, NP-C
- Has the Future of Part-Time Work Shifted by Lillee Gelinas, DNP, RN, CPPS, FAAN
- Fighting to Find Nurses, Mercy experiments with Uber's 'Gig Worker' Model by Annika Merrilees.
There are many apps for gig nursing with a variety of unique features. We invite you to explore and discover the platform that works for your organization.
