7 November 2018
A hospital ward with a higher than average vacancy rate has transformed the way it works to make it a more attractive place for staff, while offering a safer and kinder environment for patients.
The team on the gastroenterology and colorectal surgery wards at RSH
Recruiting nurses to work on gastroenterology and colorectal surgery wards is a challenge for hospital trusts across the country, so the team at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital have re-evaluated their everyday routines to free up more than eight hours in the week.
Seventy minutes a day have been saved every day as a result of the work, meaning even more time can be dedicated to patient care.
Mandie Esp, Ward Manager, said: “By removing non-productive time we now have so much more time in the day to do what is important. The ward is now a calmer environment, so that our patients have commented on the positive changes.
“The atmosphere in the department is also much better as everyone feels more empowered. We spend more time delivering direct patient care, while staff are now able to finish their shifts on time.”
The biggest saving been achieved by streamlining nursing handovers so they are more patient focused and last no longer than 20 minutes.
Anna Lloyd, Ward Sister, who has spent the majority of the past 18 years working on the gastroenterology and colorectal surgery ward, said: “In the past, the handovers could stray off topic and could last the best part of an hour. What we have done to stop this is create a standard process that we follow to ensure we remain completely focussed.
“Now they never last more than 20 minutes. It might not sound a lot but when you add it all up it is amazing how much more work you can get done in the day, which is especially important when you are short on staff.”
Ward Manager Mandie Esp (right) with a member of her team
Other improvements include the introduction of production boards to replace time consuming meetings and better organised drugs trolley so medication is easier to find and deliver to patients in a timely manner.
Julie Deans is a recently appointed Trainee Nurse Associate on the ward, and is so encouraged by the changes over the past few months that she envisages a long and happy career on the gastroenterology and colorectal surgery ward.
She said: “The changes have been incredible. It is now such a great place to work.
“I don’t see myself working anywhere else and I would really encourage anyone looking for a job in nursing to consider a job on the gastroenterology and colorectal surgery ward at RSH.”
The improvements were made during a week-long long Rapid Process Improvement Workshop (RPIW) as part of SaTH’s partnership with the Virginia Mason Institute in Seattle – the USA’s ‘Hospital of the Decade’.
The improvements are monitored every 30 days and Ward Manager Mandie is now being asked to explain the improvements made on her ward to all newly qualified Staff Nurses so the changes can be rolled out across The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
To apply for jobs at SaTH please visit www.jobs.sath.nhs.uk