In health care settings, rising costs over time have outpaced gains made in productivity, leading to unprecedented cost pressures. As a consequence of this financially-constrained environment, many health care executives look to find short- to medium-term savings within the nursing labor budget. Yet, as guardians of care quality, nurse executives understand that imprecise cuts to personnel can have adverse care outcomes.
Research from the Global Centre for Nursing Executives indicates there is a way to cut labour costs without cutting personnel. This study provides nurse leaders with a four-step manual for reducing their labour costs while safeguarding their staff and the care they deliver.