Hospitals across the United States have relied on travel nurses to ease the burden on overworked nurses and help manage patient loads. However, this has come at a high cost. According to reports, contract travel nurse expenses have risen over 250% in the past three years. Despite the high expenses, hospitals have been forced to rely on travel nurses to fill critical staffing gaps.
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The Challenge of Staffing Shortages During the Pandemic
Over the last year, keeping nurses on staff has ranked as the most pressing workforce issue for 90% of CEOs at community hospitals, according to a survey by the American College of Healthcare Executives.
The pandemic has exacerbated nursing staff shortages and resulted in contract nursing rates surging during successive waves of Covid infections. During the omicron surge in the winter of 2022, national rates spiked to an average of $150 an hour, which is three times the national average for full-time staff nurses.
Contract Travel Nurse Expenses Surge as Hospitals Rely on Travel Nurses
As hospitals have become increasingly reliant on contract nurses, travel nurse expenditures have risen more than 250% since the start of the pandemic. “There continues to be significant volatility in hourly wages paid to registered nurses, which represent a significant share of overall labor costs,” said Flint Brenton, CEO of Syntellis Performance Solutions.
Using high-paid workers from travel-nursing agencies also made for a vicious circle when it comes to staffing, as agency staff were paid significant salary rates and had complete control of their work schedules, leading to increased turnover among in-house nurses.
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In-House Travel Nurse Programs: A Solution to Rising Contract Labor Costs
One way that hospitals are looking to control costs, reduce turnover, and provide workers with more flexible hours is through the use of in-house travel nurse programs. In-house travel nurse programs have become a viable solution for hospitals to maintain better control over their nursing staff and to reduce the costs associated with relying on contract labor.
Trinity Health System’s First Choice: An Internal Travel Nurse Program
Trinity Health System has been using its own internal travel nurse program, called First Choice, to better manage its nursing staff. The program has helped Trinity Health System to maintain better control over its contract nursing costs while providing nurses with the flexibility to work in different locations and maintain consistency in providing quality care.
Benefits of In-House Travel Nurse Programs for Hospitals
The success of in-house travel nurse programs like First Choice has inspired other hospitals to create their own internal staffing programs to cut down on agency contract labor costs. By doing so, hospitals can better control their staffing costs and maintain relationships with their nurses.
Additionally, hospitals are faced with the challenge of retaining their full-time staff nurses, as travel nurse salaries continue to rise. In-house travel nurse programs may offer a viable solution to the high costs associated with relying on contract labor.
Flexibility is Key for Nurses Seeking Work-Life Balance
While better pay and staffing conditions remain the top concerns for most nurses, flexibility is also key. Nurses want to be able to work part-time, seek higher pay, and maintain relationships with their colleagues. In-house travel nurse programs, like Trinity Health System’s First Choice, have provided nursing staff with greater flexibility, allowing them to work in different locations and maintain consistency in providing quality care.
Hospitals Adapt to the Changing Needs of the Healthcare Industry
The use of in-house travel nurse programs is just one of the many ways that hospitals are adapting to the new realities of the healthcare industry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has shown just how crucial it is to have a robust and flexible healthcare system in place, one that can adapt to the changing needs of patients and nursing staff.
Conclusion
The healthcare industry has faced significant staffing shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the use of travel nurses has helped ease the burden.
However, the rising cost of travel nurse expenses have put pressure on hospitals to find more cost-effective solutions. In-house travel nurse programs, like Trinity Health System’s First Choice, have emerged as a viable option to control costs, reduce turnover, and provide nursing staff with greater flexibility.
The success of such programs has led to other hospitals adopting similar initiatives, ensuring that they can better manage staffing costs and provide quality care to their patients. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, it is clear that in-house travel nurse programs will play an essential role in maintaining a flexible and resilient healthcare system.