Latest report from Incredible Health reveals 88% of nurses point to staffing shortages negatively impacting patient care

In fall 2022, New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System launched its four-day workweek program for nurse managers. More than a year later, the program continues to improve staff engagement, satisfaction and has become an important retention strategy, Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, chief nurse executive for the system, told Becker's.

New anesthesia considerations for patients taking anti-obesity drugs like Ozempic has been released by the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology.

New York City-based New York-Presbyterian's Allen Hospital launched a revamped midwifery program following outcry from the community and nurses, PoliticoPro reported March 7.

The American Nurses Association announced plans March 8 for its American Nurses Enterprise Research Council to begin a review and modernization process of its Magnet designation criteria for hospitals.

A bipartisan bill that limits mandatory overtime for nurses, originally proposed in 2020, has been reintroduced. It also shields nurses from retaliation from hospitals if nurses turn down overtime.

Nurse shortages have plagued healthcare in recent years, but with the workforce showing signs of bouncing back, many leaders are turning their attention to retention over recruitment.

Alaska is the top-paying state for travel nurses, but two of the top-paying cities are in Texas, a March 7 Vivian report found.

Health systems are increasingly reimagining nurse responsibilities and workflows in response to staff shortages and high levels of employee burnout, among other challenges.

National Nurses United, the 225,000 member nursing union, has come out against the CDC's recent walk back of the five-day isolation period once recommended by the federal health agency for people who test positive for COVID-19, the group stated in a March 6 announcement shared with Becker's.

The international nurse fellowship program at Springfield, Mo.-based CoxHealth has been accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, making it the first such program in the country with the distinction. 

A bill currently moving through the Minnesota House of Representatives would allow nurses to refuse to care for patients if they feel it staffing levels are inadequate, and also opt not to take on extra patient assignments if they feel they cannot do so safely.

Minneapolis-based Allina Health is tackling the nursing shortage through various long-term initiatives, including improved orientation programs, developing initiatives for nurse leadership and establishing an RN residency program.

Nurses at Palm Springs, Calif.-based Desert Regional Medical Center launched a billboard campaign against the sale of the hospital to Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, according to a Feb. 26 National Nurses United news release.

Billings (Mont.) Clinic's has moved away from using contracted anesthesia providers to create its own anesthesia department, causing some concern around how the health system will attract physician anesthesiologists.

Most of the top paying metropolitan areas for nurse specialties are located in California, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Nurse leaders say they do not have sufficient financial resources to address the needs of their workforce. Even with the addition of workflow technology and new tools, 72% say they are burned out, and burnout is prompting 31% to consider leaving their jobs, according to a report published Feb. 27 by AMN Healthcare.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics compiled the average wage for nurse specialties in every state as of May 2022, the latest data available.

Over the past few years, much of the discourse on supporting the well-being of healthcare workers has focused on nurses and front-line teams — and rightfully so, as many nurses continue to report burnout stemming from their work environment. But to ensure efforts meant to support bedside nurses live up to their full potential, hospitals and health systems should be placing an equal focus on nurse managers, leaders say. 

Houston Community College no longer offers its Associate Degree in Nursing program, according to the Texas Board of Nursing.