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The holiday season can be stressful, especially for nurses and other healthcare professionals. Patient volumes can surge dramatically due to seasonal illnesses, travel-related injuries, and the exacerbation of chronic illnesses. Requests for time off also increase, as most workers want more time to spend with their families during the holidays. Granting everyone the time off they desire while providing quality patient care requires an extra dose of holiday magic.
Here are a few tips for a merry healthcare organization this holiday season and throughout the year.
Anticipate Patient Demand and Staffing Requirements
Analyze holiday-specific historical data, such as patient volume changes and flu season trends, to help you forecast patient demand. Look at absentee patterns in your organization for an estimate of how many workers might call in.
Consider a wide variety of factors, such as:
• Weather forecasts
• Holiday travel trends
• Local disease outbreaks
• Staff absences
Implement Cross-Training
Athletes cross-train to strengthen and improve their own performance and the performance of their team. Nurses who cross-train gain the same benefits. Cross-training can help healthcare organizations provide exceptional care throughout all departments, during the holidays, and the rest of the year.
Recognize and Reward Holiday Heroes
Nurses work long and hard throughout the year, of course, but especially during the holiday season. Some go above and beyond the call of duty by volunteering to work extra shifts so that their co-workers can spend more time with their families. Recognizing and rewarding these dedicated nurses can inspire others to swap shifts, work a few more hours, or otherwise bring holiday cheer to others.
Offer Flexible Scheduling
Flexibility is always important when it comes to nurse scheduling, of course, but especially so during the holidays. To cope, many families move their celebrations to different days, or forgo the trip to see their relatives. Flexible scheduling can help nurses celebrate the holidays on time and with the people they love.
Flexible scheduling for the holidays may include:
• Temporary shifts
• Extended work hours
• Shortened work hours
• On-call opportunities
Don’t Forget the Shift-Swapping Options
The ability to swap shifts during the holidays is like a gift exchange in which both parties get something they will love. Shift-swapping is especially helpful when a nurse receives an unwelcome holiday surprise, such as a canceled flight due to an unexpected snowstorm or the need to make some extra holiday funds.
For best results, use an online platform that allows nurses and other healthcare professionals to swap shifts from any location.
Leverage Technology
Technology can help nearly every healthcare organization with its nurse scheduling needs. Online scheduling platforms give nurses the control they need to balance their work responsibilities with their holiday celebrations.
ByteBloc Provides the Nurse Scheduling System You Need this Holiday Season
Founded by a physician more than 30 years ago, ByteBloc has been the industry leader for emergency medicine scheduling. Today, ByteBloc is also the leader in nurse and physician scheduling. Our shift scheduling software is available 24/7, including over the holiday season.
For more information about nurse shift scheduling over the holidays, consult with ByteBloc.
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