The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed the U.S. healthcare system tremendously since the onset. However, even as the pandemic lessens and spread rates decline, we continue to experience the effects, including those still occurring and evolving. This includes not only the emotional toll it has taken on healthcare professionals, but also the impact of the shortage of labor and associated costs.
These costs come at a premium rate, with travel nursing companies competing for the same nurse at times, raising the overall cost of the nurse. Through all of this, we have seen an exodus of nurses leaving their current positions to switch over to travel nursing, moving into other areas of nursing, or even exiting the field all together. We have even seen hospitals forced to close full floors of their facility due to a lack of staff.
At Conexus MedStaff, we have always operated with a vision of “One Team.” Being one team includes being one team with our healthcare facility partners. During this time, we have remained partners with our healthcare facilities by continuing to provide them with the nurses assigned to their facility without increasing pay rates during this crucial time for healthcare workers. Our partnership ensures that the healthcare facility receives the same level of service that was initially agreed upon pre-pandemic, alleviating worry that they could lose a valued member of their team to another hospital.
One Team also includes our nurses. Our nurses have worked alongside fellow nurses at their assigned healthcare facility, working numerous hours to ensure quality patient care to those that need it most. They are treated as members of the internal team, and often consider themselves a true extension of the full-time hospital team. Due to this feeling of belonging and ongoing support, our retention rate for Conexus nurses at our partner facilities has remained constant, keeping our nurses invested in their assigned placement and not looking to leave one hospital to go to another. In fact, more than 85% of Conexus nurses are hired on permanently with their hospital at the completion of their assignment.
So, what does the future hold? Only time can tell, but we are prepared for the current trend to continue and even get worse before it gets better – especially due to ongoing vaccine mandates. Regardless of whatever the future brings, one thing will always ring true – Conexus MedStaff is committed to providing quality healthcare professionals to our healthcare partners, aligning with their goal to ensure quality patient care to members of their local community.