Within the business community, succession planning plays a key role in an organization’s strategic initiatives. Within healthcare, however, it has been largely overlooked. Without careful planning, healthcare organizations risk a catastrophic gap in leadership continuity that could jeopardize operational cost management, quality of care improvement, and regulatory compliance. How do you close that dangerous gap? Thoughtful succession planning. The Career Handoff helps healthcare and nurse leaders proactively preserve and pass on their valuable knowledge and wisdom to new generations. With an approach that emphasizes mentoring and sustainability of expertise, this book aims to facilitate smooth transitions and the continued viability of healthcare organizations. Authors Kathy Malloch and Tim Porter-O’Grady share their extensive knowledge through guidelines, stories, and lived experiences. For those with retirement on the horizon—and their potential successors—The Career Handoff offers insightful guidance and succession planning strategies that position healthcare organizations for a sustainable, successful future.

“This book provides a comprehensive overview of staffing, from budgeting to scheduling, daily staff adjustments, and data analytics. It serves as a wonderful resource for both practical approaches and innovation in nurse staffing.” –Marla J. Weston, PhD, RN, FAAN CEO, Weston Consulting, LLC Past CEO, American Nurses Association “This remarkable book sets the standard for leading practices with staffing and scheduling.” –Karlene M. Kerfoot, PhD, RN, FAAN Chief Nursing Officer, Symplr “These two authors have developed an amazing book that will fulfill two major purposes: an orientation guide for new nurse managers and a refresher for experienced nurse manager as they ponder the staffing implications of a new model of care.” –Rhonda Anderson, DNSc(h), MPA, RN, FAAN, LFACHE, FACHT Consultant/Surveyor, Global Healthcare Accreditation The safe staffing crisis now facing the nursing profession is further amplified by the nurse shortage and continuing fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. There are no easy answers, but there are resources that can help. In this book, readers will find: · Detailed staffing plan, policy, and delivery model examples · Turnkey calculation worksheets for full-time equivalencies (FTEs), PTO, and productive vs. nonproductive time · Sound strategies for introducing new processes and technology · Real-world staffing experiences from frontline managers · Staffing and scheduling plans optimized for rural and critical access hospitals TABLE OF CONTENTS Part 1: Understanding Staffing Chapter 1: Nursing Fundamentals for Staffing Chapter 2: The Current State of Staffing Part 2: Researching & Operating Safe Staffing Principles and Practices Chapter 3: Start with Understanding Your Unit’s Care Delivery Model Chapter 4: Maximize the Capacity and Capabilities of Your RN Workforce Chapter 5: Empower All Disciplines to Practice to Their Full Scope Chapter 6: Recognizing, Manage, and Minimize Your Variability Chapter 7: Target Technology That Improves Staffing and Outcomes Chapter 8: Pulling Your Data Together Part 3: Staffing Tools and Models Chapter 9: Innovative Care Delivery Models Chapter 10: Outside the Hospital Walls Chapter 11: Examples of Staffing Plans, Policies, and Committees Epilogue