Fresno, Calif.-based Community Health System has eliminated 285 clinical nursing supervisor positions as part of a broader restructuring that leaders say is necessary to meet shifting patient care and staffing needs.
In March, the health system sent a notice to local officials sharing plans to cut 180 nurse supervisor roles at Community Regional Medical Center, 19 positions at Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital and 86 positions at Clovis Community Medical Center, according to GV Wire and The Fresno Bee.
The layoffs took effect May 3 and come as the system shifts to a inpatient staffing model that introduces an assistant nursing manager role in all units. To support the staffing change, the system is hiring for 350 bedside nursing and clinical leadership positions, including new assistant nurse manager roles.
“Community frequently evaluates our care model to assure that we have the right staffing mix to meet changing patient care needs,” Daniel Davis, RN, division president of hospitals for Community Health System, said in a statement to the Bee. “Based on those needs and industry best practice to support nursing at the bedside, we transitioned away from Clinical Nursing Supervisors and toward a combined Assistant Nurse Manager and Charge Nurse model.”
Of the 285 affected clinical nurse supervisors, 247 transitioned into new roles within the system, Mr. Davis told GV Wire. Affected staff were eligible to reapply for alternative positions such as assistant nurse manager, charge nurse or clinical nurse ladder roles. However, several former supervisors told the Bee these positions came with significantly lower pay.
The elimination of the clinical nurse supervisor roles came several weeks before the health system and its affiliate Physician Network Advantage agreed to a $31.5 million settlement over allegations they provided extravagant benefits to physicians in exchange for referrals.
Community Health System said the staffing changes were not related to the settlement.
“This shift was driven solely by clinical best practice and patient care needs and was not designed to achieve cost savings,” Mr. Davis said in his statement to the Bee.
Becker’s has reached out to Community Health System and will update this report should more information become available.
