Staffing is a "significant challenge" for many ASC leaders, one-third of whom ranked it as their top concern, according to OR Manager's 2019 Salary/Career Survey.
OR Manager collected data from 196 ASC leaders from March 28 to May 31. Respondents were either OR Manager subscribers or part of an external list.
Eight insights:
1. Nearly one-third of ASC respondents reported more open registered nurse positions, up from 26 percent who reported more openings in 2018.
2. RN turnover was up for 26 percent of ASCs in 2019, compared to 22 percent in 2018.
3. Just over one-fourth of ASC respondents said they have more surgical technologist openings, up slightly from last year.
4. Surgical tech turnover increased for 17 percent of ASC respondents, down from 20 percent of respondents who saw increased surgical tech turnover in 2018.
5. In 2019, 58 percent of ASC respondents said recruiting experienced operating room nurses has become more difficult, compared to 56 percent in 2018.
6. The number of respondents who said recruiting surgical techs has become more difficult increased eight percentage points, from 41 percent in 2018 to 49 percent in 2019.
7. However, 62 percent of respondents said turnover for RNs was flat compared to 12 months ago, and 70 percent reported stagnant turnover for surgical techs in the past 12 months.
8. ASCs' top two staffing challenges in the past 12 months were hiring more direct care staff and reducing overtime.