Hospitals share COVID-19-inspired changes to nursing practice

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced hospitals to adapt in a rapidly changing environment. After a year of operation under these circumstances, hospital CEOs have begun to reassess, stopping some operations and starting others. One area of change involves use of agency nurses to combat nurse shortages during pandemic surges. Recognizing fluctuating staff needs could remain a reality, Lily Henson, MD, CEO of Piedmont Henry Hospital in Stockbridge, Ga. explained she is considering new ways to train future nurses in best practices for reducing hospital-acquired infection and new approaches to promoting teamwork among long- and short-term nursing staff. Conversely, William Jennings, president and CEO of Reading (Pa.) Hospital reported changing some nursing practices due to the pandemic, including use of an abbreviated nursing disaster documentation flow procedure. (Hospital Review article, 3/17/21)