Literature Review

Physicians grow louder on noncompetes Becker's Hospital Review, by Ashleigh Hollowell; 3/4/24 Amid a nationwide shortage of physicians, contractual noncompete clauses are making it more challenging for patients to receive the care they need, particularly in more rural regions, and physicians are pushing back, NBC News reported March 3. The American Medical Association estimates that between 35% and 45% of physicians in the U.S. are bound by noncompete clauses of some kind.

Contract CNA staffing associated with worse care quality outcomes: study McKnights Senior Living, by Kathleen Steele Gaivin; 3/1/24Nursing homes that use contract staffing to fill certified nursing assistant position vacancies are more likely to experience worse care quality than those that do not, according to the results of a study by PHI. The proportion of total CNA hours filled by contract CNAs in SNFs increased from 2% in 2017 to 11% in 2022, the study found.

IntellaTriage strengthens position as market leader through NurseLine acquisitionFOX WTNZ TV 43; 2/29/24IntellaTriage, the leading provider of after-hours nurse-first triage services for hospice and home health, is excited to announce its strategic acquisition of NurseLine, a prominent nationwide provider of hospice and home health triage services. The transaction was completed for an undisclosed sum and marks a significant step in IntellaTriage's commitment to enhancing patient care and streamlining healthcare delivery.

Is healthcare paying enough attention to nurse leaders?Becker's Clinical Leadership, by Erica Carbajal; 2/26/24 Early this year, the American Organization for Nursing Leadership Foundation released findings from more than 2,400 nurse leaders who were surveyed in November. Thirty-five percent of respondents indicated they were considering an exit from their roles: 12% said they intend to leave and 23% said they may leave within the next six months. When asked what the top reasons were for thinking about an exit, nurse leaders pointed to work having a negative affect on their health and well-being and not having the resources to do their job — a parallel to what bedside nurses consistently point to as drivers of burnout or reasons they've stepped away from the job. 

Right-sizing interprofessional team training for serious-illness communication: A strength-based approach PEC Innvov, by Liana Eskola, Ethan Silverman, Sarah Rogers, Amy Zelenski; distributed 2/28/24Objective: Palliative care communication skills help tailor care to patients' goals. With a palliative care physician shortage, non-physicians must gain these serious illness communication skills. Historically, trainings have targeted physician-only groups; our goal was to train interprofessional teams.

‘Joint employer’ rule effective date now March 11 McKnights Senior Living, by Lois A. Bowers; 2/26/24The National Labor Relations Board’s “joint employer” rule now is set to go into effect on March 11 after a federal judge granted a stay last week. ... Long-term care providers that use temporary or contract workers, as well as operators that are part of franchises, and others, could be affected.

Where hospices are investing their 2024 recruitment, retention dollars Hospice News, by Holly Vossel; 2/20/24As hospices zero in on their investments in staff engagement and operational efficiencies, organizational culture is becoming a higher priority. ... Some have leveraged technology to streamline their operations and reduce documentation burdens, while others have poured resources into sculpting their organizational culture and developing training and career pathways.Notable mentions: Tanya Marion, Enhabit; Craig Dresang, YoloCares; Cooper Linton, Duke HomeCare & Hospice.

10 states where 'nurse burnout' is Googled most Becker's Clinical Leadership, by Mariah Taylor; 2/21/24Betternurse.org used Google Trends from Oct. 21, 2023 to Jan. 23, 2024, to gauge the relative search interest for the term "nurse burnout." Arizona had the highest search for nurse burnout, while Los Angeles was the metro area with the most burnout searches. The week in 2023 with the most searches for burnout was Nov. 26 to Dec. 2. On average in the last five years, November was the highest search month for nurse burnout. [Click on the title's link for states with the highest scores for "nurse burnout" searches.]

C-suites, clinicians are burning out at both endsBecker's Hospital Review, by Alexis Kayser; 2/22/24C-suite leaders and clinicians often feel they are on opposite sides of an ever-expanding chasm. But they actually have a lot in common, according to Bruce Cummings and Paul DeChant, MD — a former executive and a former practicing physician, respectively, and perhaps an unlikely pair. Executives and physicians are both knowledge workers. Both are trained to spot and solve problems. Both crave the autonomy to fix those problems — but often, neither feels they truly have it. Both are far strides from the bright-eyed, difference-driven graduates they once were. Both are exhausted, and neither really knows how to talk about it. 

Demand for these health care jobs is increasing most in each stateCentre Daily Times, by Paxtyn Merten Stacker; 2/15/24An analysis including more than 70 other health care jobs projected all but three states to add home health and personal care aides in the highest numbers. In just three states—Colorado, Florida, and South Dakota—did registered nurse job growth outpace home health.

Scandal exposes flaws in Iowa elderly care system: Stricter hiring protocols neededBNN, by Mahnoor Jehangir; 2/12/24[Two recent] cases ... reveal the urgent need for stricter hiring protocols in Iowa's elderly care system. ... In 2023, an Iowa nursing home and a hospice program found themselves in the crosshairs of a scandal that exposed the vulnerabilities of the elderly care system. The facilities ... had unwittingly hired individuals with troubling histories. [One] had a criminal record for felony theft of $25,00 or more; [the other] was listed on Nebraska's registry of abusers of the elderly.

PeaceHealth home care nurses strike: Picketers demand equal pay, better staffingThe Register-Guard, by Miranda Cyr; 2/13/24About 30 home care and hospice nurses and supporters were spread out at the entrances to the PeaceHealth offices in Springfield. The strike, which started Saturday, is scheduled to last until 7 a.m. on Feb. 24. "I really care about my community. I care about them being able to receive good care," said Heather Herbert, an ONA member and hospice nurse who was among those picketing on Monday. "We would not be striking if we felt that there was any other way to get what our community deserves."