Flexible nursing shifts at Inova Fair Oaks are a win-win for RNs

Good Timing

A new nursing shift model began in August at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, and based on its success, it is now expanding to other units in the hospital.

The new model involves four-, six- and eight-hour day shifts, as opposed to one traditional 12-hour shift. After analyzing the workload of registered nurses (RNs) at Inova Fair Oaks, leadership learned that additional RNs were needed to cover the busiest time of day (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.). To address this challenge, Katie Hile, MSN, RN, NE-BC, ONC, Senior Director of Acute Care Services at IFOH, decided to reduce a typical 12-hour shift to multiple shorter shifts.

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This reconfiguration of hours resulted in more nurses being available to distribute medication, and perform assessments and discharges. “We tried to provide our nurses with the support they needed by being creative with hours and matching the resources to the workload,” Hile explains.

Not only does the new model provide more personnel support during the busiest time of day in the hospital, but it also offers a more flexible schedule, bringing nurses a better quality of life. The new shift times help to accommodate RNs with families and children, and part-time RNs, who can pick up shorter shifts, says Hile.

The new shift model started as a pilot program in the medical oncology unit in November 2016, and a second pilot was held in January 2017. Following both pilot phases, Hile says she received positive feedback from RNs about the new shift schedule. Equally as important, the patients noticed: Patient experience outcomes significantly improved during the pilot phase.

RNs: Come Work for Us!

To learn more about alternative shift opportunities at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital, visit inova.org/flex or call 703-391-3186.