If you subscribe to the daily nursing newsletters, blogs, or LinkedIn channels, you have probably seen the topic of nurse staffing come up at least once a day. Now that the 88th Texas Legislature has approved a historic amount of funding focused on nursing education, we must not lose sight of nurse retention. While some sources claim nursing turnover is improving overall, others describe the possibility of turnover being anywhere from 5% to nearly 40% depending on the facility size. According to the Texas Department of Health Services, there are 591 hospitals with over 87,000 licensed hospital beds in the state. While there are close to 500,000 nurses in Texas, there are only about 167,000 nurses working in inpatient settings (TCNWS, 2022).
The shortage of nurses in Texas poses significant challenges for healthcare facilities and patients alike. Insufficient staffing levels can lead to increased stress and burnout among nurses, compromising patient care quality and safety. Moreover, high turnover rates contribute to increased recruitment and training costs for healthcare organizations, further straining resources. To address these issues, it is crucial to focus not only on recruiting new nurses but also on retaining experienced ones.
Recognizing the importance of nurse retention, the Texas Nurses Association and Texas Hospital Association have collaborated to develop an electronic resource for hospitals and nurses to better understand staffing laws in Texas. The Texas Laws Governing Hospital Nurse Staffing document serves to provide insight into the requirements of Texas hospitals to have a nurse staffing committee, nurse staffing plan developed by the nurse staffing committee, as well as ensuring that hospitals are providing annual updates to The Department of State Health Services.
However, improving nurse staffing goes beyond compliance with regulations. It requires a concerted effort to create supportive work environments that promote job satisfaction and professional development. TNA is committed to advancing this cause and has organized a Nurse Staffing Pre-Conference on May 30, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. This event aims to explore the intent of the law, how nurses and organizations operationalize nurse staffing committees, and what more needs to be done to improve nurse staffing in Texas.
The Nurse Staffing Pre-Conference will precede the 2024 TNA Annual Conference, scheduled for May 31-June 1. This conference presents an invaluable opportunity for stakeholders across the nursing profession to come together, share insights, and collaborate on strategies to address nurse staffing challenges. Attendance is open to staff nurses, middle managers, Chief Nursing Officers, Educators, and Nurse researchers, and registration is now open. With limited seating available, interested individuals are encouraged to secure their spot as soon as possible.
In conclusion, while the recent funding allocated to nursing education in Texas is a positive step, it is imperative that we also focus on retaining our existing nursing workforce. By addressing nurse staffing challenges and creating supportive work environments, we can ensure better outcomes for both nurses and patients. Join us at the Nurse Staffing Pre-Conference to be part of this important conversation and contribute to positive change in the nursing profession.
REFERENCES
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). HCAHPS Quality Assurance Guidelines Version 16.0. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. https://www.cms.gov/files/document/hcahps-qag-v160.pdf
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Texas Department of State Health Services. (n.d.). Texas Hospital Data. Texas Health Data. https://healthdata.dshs.texas.gov/dashboard/hospitals/texas-hospital-data
Texas Department of State Health Services. (n.d.). Workforce Supply and Demand. Texas Health Data. https://healthdata.dshs.texas.gov/dashboard/health-care-workforce/hprc/workforce-supply-and-demand
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. (n.d.). Nursing Shortage Reduction Program. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. https://www.highered.texas.gov/our-work/supporting-our-institutions/institutional-grant-opportunities/nursing-shortage-reduction-program/#:~:text=The%20amount%20of%20%249%2C440%2C024%20will,baccalaureate%2C%20master%27s%2C%20and%20doctoral%20degree
Texas Senate. (2023, March 30). Legislative News: March 30, 2023. Texas Senate. https://senate.texas.gov/news.php?id=20230330a
TrackBill. (n.d.). Texas Senate Bill 25: Relating to support for nursing-related postsecondary education, including scholarships to nursing students, loan repayment assistance to nurses and nursing faculty, and grants to nursing education programs. https://trackbill.com/bill/texas-senate-bill-25-relating-to-support-for-nursing-related-postsecondary-education-including-scholarships-to-nursing-students-loan-repayment-assistance-to-nurses-and-nursing-faculty-and-grants-to-nursing-education-programs/2395857/
