HJNO Nov/Dec 2024

62 NOV / DEC 2024 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS CHILDREN’S HEALTH COLUMN CHILDREN’S HEALTH HOSPITALS across the United States con- tinue to face a persistent nursing shortage — a crisis that has only deepened since the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite concerted efforts to bolster the healthcare workforce, the demand for skilled nurses continues to exceed the supply, placing a strain on hospitals nationwide. This ongoing chal- lenge not only presents possible impacts to patient care but can also take a toll on the well-being of existing staff, as health- care organizations struggle to maintain high standards amid staffing shortfalls. With this tough reality front of mind, Chil- dren’s Hospital New Orleans has managed to turn this challenge into an opportuni- ty, developing innovative programs and models to stabilize the nursing workforce and sidestep the widespread shortages af- fecting many other institutions. At the heart of Children’s Hospital New Orleans’ approach is a predictive staffing model created in collaboration with the hospital’s data analytics team. This mod- el forecasts staffing needs 12 months in advance by analyzing data points such as nurse turnover, internal transfers, and patient census. This forward-looking ap- proach has allowed the hospital to an- ticipate and proactively address staffing gaps, ensuring the hospital remains fully staffed while avoiding the need for costly agency or temporary staff. The success of this model underscores the importance of executive alignment, with leadership working closely together to develop and execute a workforce strategy that is both data-driven and responsive to the hospi- tal’s unique needs. Building on this proactive approach to staffing, Children’s Hospital New Orleans has also developed a three-phased nurse TACKLING THE NURSING SHORTAGE Through Innovative Programs