Issue #23: Are You Checking it Twice? ...Your Staffing Grid, That Is!

Staffing grids connect clinical and financial guidelines in a way that effectively supports sustainable operations.

We aren't sure how long they've been around, but we would assume that the first staffing grid is older than anyone reading this, given how beautifully simple and impactful these little pieces of paper can be.

Does your nursing unit's staffing grid align with the budget financially? Are your nursing units staffing in alignment with their grids? How do you know? How do you ensure consistent nursing ratios between units? Across multiple hospitals in a health system?

NewslettersCara CookDecember 18, 2023Patient Throughput, Best Practices, Staffing Grids, Seasonal Staffing

Issue #19: Perfecting Premium Pay: Hiring FTEs within the Goldilocks Zone

How does your hospital manage position approvals? We've observed 3 methods: Hiring to budgeted FTEs, approvals based on productivity performance, or customized department FTE hire targets based on total annual projected labor spend. Hire targets provide a specific FTE value for departments to maintain by considering volume-driven monthly FTE needs and total annual labor cost. For best results, start with the most cost effective option and make adjustments from there by carefully considering the operational feasibility of flexing up. Remember: the best way to address chronic vacancies is to hire ahead of turnover!