The aim with this project has been to enhance our nursing capacity during night shifts, and our solution has been a resounding success to patients and their care, as well as improving the wellbeing and operational effectiveness of our nursing teams.
The single most important impact from this project has been a revision in rota systems at the hospice from a three shift rota system to a two shift rota system. This popular change in working pattern has been warmly received by both staff and patients alike. It has ushered in multiple positive impacts:
Patients & relatives
- Significant reduction in clinical down time caused by administration and communication requirements especially during hand over functions from one shift to another. In short this has led to efficiency improvements which ultimately benefits quality of clinical provision throughout the hospice
- Significantly improved continuity of care as staff rotate through the hospice less during a 24-hour period, which is especially reassuring and comforting for our elderly or distressed patients in addition to patients and relatives, who can feel more comfortable because they get to know the nurses who provide care for their loved one
- Quicker pain relief provision and symptom management
- Greater capacity to deal with more complex patient needs
- Improved scope to field night-time enquires from out of hours GP, emergency services, admissions, and advice support
- Greatly enhanced pastoral and bereavement support
- Expanded capacity to provide complementary therapies like massages
- Greater bariatric patient provision
- Not having to turn anyone away through inadequate staffing capacity
Staff
- Although 2 shift system has meant slightly longer working days it has introduced a 3 days on, 4 days off rota system. This has positively contributed to clinical staff reporting they feel they have a better-quality family/work life balance and also provides better rest periods between work
- Less stressed working environment and more balanced workload
- Capacity to better cope with emergencies and more complex patients
- Greatly enhanced staff wellbeing – physically, mentally and emotionally
- More scope for progression and training
- Greater operational capacity to facilitate rest breaks and minimise stress
- Greater job satisfaction by being able to provide more timely care provision
- More job variety, flexibility in staff rotas and holiday/sickness cover
A huge thank you to The February Foundation for your generosity supporting this project.