Academic medical center creates nurse staffing model for COVID-19 surge
As cases of COVID-19 surged in the spring of 2020, nursing leaders at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, recognizedthe need to prepare for shortages of staff, space and supplies, according to an article in the March issue of Nursing Management. To expand critical care capacity, the leaders modified the medical-surgical staffing model to increase critical care staffing and prepare for the transition of medical-surgical units to COVID-19 care units. The revised staffing model promoted teamwork, the maintenance of high-quality patient care and the safety of hospital staff. Nurse leaders incorporated flexibility into the model to accommodate an influx of critically ill patients. One goal was to allow nurses to practice at the top of their license while engaging other providers to complete non-nursing care.
