How many total nurses, nursing supervisors, and head nurses will need to be on staff at the hospital when the new wing opens in 12 months? Assume that the hospital wants to increase the ratio of beds/nurse from 4 to 5 and increase the ratio of nurses per nursing supervisor from 10 to 11 as cost-saving measures. The ratio of head nurses to nursing supervisors will remain the same, as will the requirement for at least 1 head nurse per shift. Round all calculations to the nearest whole number.

Learning Goal: I’m working on a management exercise and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

Liberty Healthcare, a 400-bed hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, currently employs 100 nurses (RNs), 10 nursing supervisors, and 1 head nurse (nursing manager) on each of 3 shifts. The hospital operates 24/7. The current staffing ratios are 4 beds/nurse, 10 nurses per nursing supervisor, and one head nurse for every 10 nursing supervisors, but a minimum of 1 head nurse for each of the 3 shifts. When a nursing manager is on vacation or otherwise not available, a senior nurse fills in on shift for the nursing manager. An additional 40-bed wing is under construction and will be completed within the next 12 months.

Currently, nursing turnover runs at approximately 30% per year; nursing supervisor turnover is 10% per year. Also, based on age and experience profiles, it is forecast that 6 staff nurses and 1 head nurse will likely retire within one year, in addition to those lost through turnover.

1. How many total nurses, nursing supervisors, and head nurses will need to be on staff at the hospital when the new wing opens in 12 months? Assume that the hospital wants to increase the ratio of beds/nurse from 4 to 5 and increase the ratio of nurses per nursing supervisor from 10 to 11 as cost-saving measures. The ratio of head nurses to nursing supervisors will remain the same, as will the requirement for at least 1 head nurse per shift. Round all calculations to the nearest whole number.
2. How many nurses, nursing supervisors, and head nurses will depart during the coming year? How many will be available to staff the expanded hospital? Round all calculations.
3. How many nurses, nursing supervisors, and head nurses will have to be hired, reassigned, or terminated over the next 12 months to meet the hospital’s projected staffing needs? Round all calculations.
4. What do you see as the challenges in meeting the hospital’s staffing requirements for the coming year?
5. What actions can be taken to meet the hospital’s projected staffing requirements?

Please show all work (how answers were arrived at). For ease of calculations, it is recommended that you think in 3 stages: demand, availability, and gap. It is also easier to work with data for one shift and then calculate totals for 3 shifts.