Health department report identifies nurse staffing shortage at IU Health Methodist

A recent report from the Indiana State Department of Health shows that nurse staffing was short at Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal.

For the report, the department of health reviewed two hospital patient units in December and January.

Here are seven highlights related to the state's assessment.

1. The state found that staffing was short 18 out of 23 days on one unit and 14 out of 16 days on the other unit, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal.

2. There were times when a unit was short one registered nurse or one nurse technician. There were also times when a unit was short by two RNs, or two techs, or a combination of RNs and techs.

3. The department of health also reviewed 10 patients' medical records. In eight of the patients' medical records the state found poor documentation of physicians' orders and of nurses reporting vital signs results back to physicians, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal.

4. Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital CNO Linda Chase noted in an interview with the publication that new nurses have been hired, but it takes time to train them and get them to a level of competency. Therefore, their impact on staffing levels has not yet been realized.

6. In addition, the hospital has closed some beds to prevent a greater decline in staffing levels. The state report notes that the hospital is working to reopen those beds by July 1.

7. In the meantime, nurses at the hospital are working to organize a union in hopes that by doing so nurses will be able to have more direct communication with Indianapolis-based IU Health's clinical leaders and administrators, according to the Indianapolis Business Journal.

 

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