HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Given the recent layoffs at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Hutch Post asked hospital staff to provide answers about nursing staffing levels.
Below are those questions and answers, as provided by hospital spokesperson Brittney Weis.
Questions are in bold.
Answers are in italics, edited for clarity.
What is the local nurse/travel nurse percentage mix at the hospital currently?
The hospital currently has 254 registered nurses employed at HRMC, 28 of them being travelers. Within the past few weeks, six travel nurses have been hired as HRMC employees with two more who actively are considering employment opportunities. The hospital is still utilizing a limited amount of travel nurses for acute floors.
What length of contracts are being given to travel nurses now?
13-week contracts
What is the staff/patient ratio the hospital is attempting to maintain?
The hospital recently adjusted staffing ratios to follow national trends. According to a National Nurses United report, there are currently no federal mandates that regulate the number of patients registered nurses (RNs) can care for simultaneously. The critical care unit nurse-to-patient ratio is one nurse to every three-to-four patients. The ED ratio is one nurse to every 4-5 patients. The acute floors are one nurse to 5-6 patients during the day shift and 6-7 patients for night shift, and the Birthing Center is one nurse to every 4 patients, or one nurse to every two laboring mothers.
At what census level will Hutchinson Hospital be placed on diversion?109
How often has the hospital reached that census level in the last 18 months?
The hospital is licensed at 190 beds, however, 63 of those beds are located in units that have been closed before the RIF (Reduction In Force). There are 109 available beds for the census.
According to Weis, the hospital averaged a census between 70-90 inpatients the past 18 months.
Hutchinson Regional has replaced its CEO, spokesperson and Chief Nursing Officer all within the last eight months.
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