title: Are hospitals facing a critical shortage of skilled workers?
abstract: A nationwide survey of health care human resource managers reveals that hospitals are experiencing a critical shortage of qualified job applicants in certain job categories. Computer systems personnel, registered nurses, pharmacists, and therapists are especially in short supply. Jobs that require only minimal training as well as those not directly involved in patient care are filled more easily. According to the survey respondents, shortages of qualified personnel negatively impact hospitals' operations in a variety of ways. To combat shortages of qualified job applicants, hospitals are employing a variety of tools to attract workers. Signing bonuses, above-market compensation, flexible work schedules, and myriad perks are being used to entice and retain qualified workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Management, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kinard
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Little
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000600:supply & distribution; D003625:Data Collection; D004649:Employee Incentive Plans; D006801:Humans; D019451:Information Management; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D010563:Personnel Turnover / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000592:standards / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010595:Pharmacists / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011361:Professional Competence; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce