Nursing shortages continue to be a pressing issue for healthcare leaders as hospitals, ASCs and specialty care sites are still struggling with retention.
"I think the biggest threat towards ASCs in 2023 is staffing, especially qualified, experienced staffing in all areas of an ASC, including business office, pre-op, OR (both nursing and surgical technicians), post-anesthesia care unit and recovery nurses," Michael Powers, administrator of Children's West Surgery Center in Knoxville, Tenn., told Becker's.
While every state is continuing to see an effect, some have recovered faster than others. Hospitals in Florida, for example, have seen a 9 percent fall in vacancy rates since last year, according to an Aug. 15 report from the Tampa Bay Times.
In addition, A Florida Hospital Association survey of more than 200 hospitals saw the nursing turnover rate drop from 32 percent in 2022 to 20 percent this year.
The staffing rebound was accredited to seven key factors:
- The end of the public health emergency
- Fall of contract nursing rates
- Increased pay, signing and retention bonuses for nurses taking permanent positions
- Increased training for new nurses and education programs
- More funds toward student loan reimbursements, scholarships and nursing programs
- Expanding partnership between nursing schools and hospitals
- Better working conditions including using technology to reduce administrative burden