orm_october-2024 - 23

Staffing
orthopedics, but needs more time in
neurologic surgical procedures to fulfill
call responsibilities.
Preparing preceptors with efficient,
effective onboarding processes has implications
beyond the length of a traveler's
contract, Tuttas says. If the facility
still requires assistance, a good experience
increases the chance of extending
the contract rather than orienting a new
traveler.
Team integration. After one year at
Lehigh Valley, travelers can choose to
take a break or join the staff full-time.
To increase the likelihood of the latter
outcome, Straub aims to incorporate
travelers into the culture. " We include
travelers in education programs, quality
metrics, team building activities, and
events, " she says. " They are part of the
team. "
Mentors can help by connecting with
travelers on a more personal level-
for example, asking about housing and
whether
they have friends or
family
in town. " We introduce them to others,
sit with them and lunch, and ask
about how things are going, " says Francis,
who completed a 2-day class and
meets annual continuing education requirements
to serve as a mentor at All
Children's Hospital.
Even without designated mentors,
travelers should have a primary resource
contact after onboarding. In addition,
the charge nurse or educator
should check in to see how the traveler
is doing.
Evaluation. " There are really great
travelers who are doing it for work/life
balance or to see the country and have
great expertise, and then you have travelers
who are not such high performers, "
Straub says.
In some cases, travelers overstate
their abilities because they want to gain
experience in a trauma 1 center. Regardless,
" we can't train the travelers, "
Straub says. If an unqualified or underperforming
traveler cannot fill a vacancy
elsewhere, such as the orthopedic hoswww.ormanager.com
Travelers
in ambulatory surgery centers
Travelers have had limited uptake in ambulatory
surgery centers (ASCs). However,
17% of ASC respondents to the 2024 OR
Manager Salary/Career Survey reported
increasing their use of agency/travel RNs
and STs over the past 12 months, compared
to 19% in 2023, and 4% in 2020
(pre-pandemic).
At Aya Healthcare, ASCs account for only
2% of contracts this year. " We are mostly
seeing travel staff in hospital settings because
the demands there are greater than
ASC settings, " Tuttas says. For example,
unlike ASCs, hospitals need staff for weekends,
night shift, and call.
Based on her success with avoiding the
" Most of my PRN staff
are those who retired,
but want to work a little
bit, or those who want
to work less for one reason
or another, such as
wanting to spend more
time with their children
at home, " Hess says. All
were previously on staff
at the facility. Providing
the PRN pool option allows Hess to meet
staffing needs and improves staff satisfaction.
She also says it serves as a retention
tool because staff see it as an option for
when they want to retire.
Cindy Hess,
MSN, RN,
FNP-C,
CNAMB
use of travelers, Cindy Hess, MSN, RN,
FNP-C, CNAMB, encourages other ASC
leaders to consider a float pool. " It's been
a huge asset for our facility, " she says.
Hess is director of nursing for Northeast
Missouri Ambulatory Surgery Center, a multispecialty
center in Hannibal with two ORs,
one GI suite, and one procedure room that
does about 2,700 cases a year. Currently,
six of the 22 staff members are part of the
PRN (pro re nata) pool, which includes
RNs in the preoperative and postoperative
areas, RNs who are circulators, a scrub
nurse, and one ST.
pital, the contract is cancelled. A database
of cancelled contracts across Lehigh
Valley Health Network's 13 different
surgical sites ensures the candidate
cannot be hired again.
At Orlando Regional, assistant managers
evaluate traveler's performance.
" I'm not afraid to cancel a traveler if
they are talking about their pay, not contributing
to a healthy work environment,
or can't do what they said they could do
on their submission packet, " Hemingway
says.
OR leaders at Thomas Jefferson
solicit feedback from staff about travelers'
performance. Evaluation also
can be a time to gain insights from
" I rely heavily on our PRN staff, " Hess
says. The staff are aware of what days are
busier at the center and provide their availability
so the schedule can be completed
three to four weeks in advance. PRN staff
must work six shifts in a 6-month period
and are held to the same standards as
regular staff, which includes certification
requirements such as ACLS. PRN staff are
paid for the time spent completing education
requirements. They also receive annual
evaluations, the same raises as regular
employees, and are included in employee
social and appreciation events.
travelers.
" Because
they have experience in
multiple hospitals, they
can suggest helpful
changes, " says Monica
Young, RN, MBA, DNP,
FACHE, CNOR, CASC,
NEA-BC, vice president
of perioperative services.
Traveler
reduction
strategies
Monica
Young, RN,
MBA, DNP,
FACHE,
CNOR, CASC,
NEA-BC
Although best practices are important,
the general trend is to reduce or eliminate
the need for travel staff. Strategies
for doing so include float pools and trainOR
Manager | October 2024
23
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orm_october-2024

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