Healthcare Working Smarter Blog

5 Quick Tips Nurse Leaders Need to Know About Workforce Optimization

07/09/2019admin

Over the course of a career, the transition from a bedside nurse to a leadership role, or even the chief nursing officer demands shifts in focus. In addition to keeping abreast of the latest clinical and procedural advancements, a nurse executive also needs to be fluent in workforce operations. Nursing...

Breaking the Bad Habit of High Open Shift Incentives in the 11th Hour

06/20/2019admin

Last-minute incentives don’t work. It’s a bad habit that many hospitals and health systems have enabled for far too long. And nurses have learned to play the game. It makes sense: why would a nurse sign up for an open shift early if they know a higher incentive will be...

Why Being Customer-Centric is the Only Best Practice that Matters

05/06/2019admin

There is an endless stream of solutions to make your organization leaner, smarter, and faster. There’s always someone trying to sell you the latest tech to keep you competing against the big players. Top industry thought leaders (authentic and devised) are quick to offer their best practices to get your...

Building Levees of Trust: A Powerful Lesson from Nebraska’s Flood

04/11/2019admin

In March of 2019, Nebraska experienced the most widespread and devastating flooding of the past half-century. Communities were helpless as levees and dams broke along the Niobrara, Missouri, Platte and Elkhorn Rivers. Our beautiful rivers became destructive forces of nature that marooned cities, destroyed homes and farmland, eradicated interstate systems...

4 No Drama Ways to Lead Change

03/21/2019Jackie Larson

Don’t fix it if it isn’t broken. How many of us have heard this in our lifetime? This ideology stunts growth and innovation by keeping people attached to inefficient processes. It invokes fear of change and uncertainty of what a different future may hold. Humans are, by nature, creatures of...

Trusting the Predictive Model is a lot like Trusting an Insulin Pump

02/08/2019Jackie Larson

This blog post is courtesy of a special guest contributor, Kendra Perley, an Avantas team member. She offers a unique perspective on how trusting new technology has impacted her life. Change is hard. Novelty can often feel scary and overwhelming. Change is something I’ve had to become well acquainted with...

If You Build It, The Millennial Workforce Will Come: Float Pools

12/20/2018Jackie Larson

With growing demands on the workforce, flexibility offers an attractive perk to job seekers. The millennial workforce is drawn to a lifestyle that allows them to fit their career into their personal lives, rather than living their life around their work. This is good news for hospitals and health systems...

3 Features of an Effective Healthcare Open Shift Program

11/26/2018Jackie Larson

In the world of inpatient nursing, there are times when core staff will not be able to fill all needs. It is at these times that contingency resources must be tapped into by posting open shifts. A tremendous amount of waste, in both time and dollars, has been tied to...

3 Overlooked Practices Worsening the Nursing Shortage

10/11/2018Jackie Larson

The nursing shortage is putting pressure on healthcare organizations across the country, and it’s only expected to pick up speed over the next several years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for registered nurses is expected to grow by 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, compared to...

Why Fall, Football, and Flu Season Derail Staffing Plans

09/20/2018Jackie Larson

You can feel it in the air – a crisp cool breeze rustling through burnt-orange leaves and the warm smell of pumpkin spice everything. Fall is near and it is a welcomed season for many. It’s particularly received with open arms by Husker Nation. With football season brings tailgating and...