With nurse burnout on the rise, health care organizations need fresh strategies to support and retain these essential workers.
Dusti Browning, VP of Growth and Client Solutions at Conduit Health Partners, details in an article with Employee Benefit News the promising approach of adopting a hybrid workforce model that allows nurses to split their duties between virtual and bedside care. This model offers flexibility and autonomy, which are crucial for maintaining morale and job satisfaction in nursing.
Today, nurses are increasingly exploring contract and remote opportunities for greater control over their schedules. A recent LinkedIn report highlights that from 2020 to 2022, the number of nurses choosing contract work jumped from 13.7% to 23.1%. The data suggests that flexible options are more than a preference—they’re becoming a necessity.
“Organizations that design and implement hybrid workforce models – incorporating a mix of both virtual and bedside nursing care – stand to come out on top in nurse retention and recruitment,” shares Dusti.
In this environment, hybrid models can alleviate burnout and increase efficiency. By integrating virtual nursing into bedside care, hospitals can streamline workflows and free up onsite nurses to focus on complex cases. For example, a virtual nurse can assist with medication monitoring, patient education and supporting new clinicians. These roles not only ease the burden on frontline nurses but also enhance patient outcomes by reducing delays and improving care quality.
“Reinvesting dollars into hybrid work models that strengthen care quality while easing pressure on frontline nurses makes good business sense. It also avoids scenarios where clinicians feel as if they have little control over their work environment – another contributor to burnout,” shares Dusti.
As hybrid workforce models become more prevalent, health care systems stand to benefit from improved nurse retention, reduced labor costs and stronger patient outcomes. For benefit advisers, promoting these models could be a game-changer, offering solutions that not only retain top nursing talent but also address the burnout impacting other employee groups.
