From Bedside to Boardroom: My Journey in Transforming Healthcare Staffing

By Guest Writer: Larry Adams, RN, MSN, MBA, Executive Vice President of Growth at ShiftMed

Nursing is more than just a profession; it's a calling rooted in compassion and care. My career in healthcare spans over 25 years, beginning at the bedside and leading me to my current role as the Executive Vice President of Growth at ShiftMed. My experiences during this time have shaped and motivated my perspective on nursing, staffing, and the future of healthcare.

Answering the Call to Nursing

Like many people who end up in nursing, I felt drawn to nursing at a young age due to a personal experience that left an indelible mark on my life. When I was in high school, my father fell seriously ill. I stepped in as his caregiver, providing support and assistance while he was sick. 

Sadly, my father passed away shortly after I graduated from high school. But in his final moments, he told me how much he appreciated how I’d cared for him and suggested that nursing might be the right path for me.

Motivated by my father's words and my desire to make a difference in healthcare, I wasted no time. Immediately after high school, I secured a position as a secretary at a local hospital in Florence, South Carolina. 

Little did I know that this would be the beginning of an incredible journey. I worked my way up from a secretary to a nursing assistant, then a med-surg tech. Because I was motivated and eager to learn more, I pursued a variety of degrees ranging from LPN all the way to my MSN and MBA. 

I viewed each step as an investment in my personal and professional growth. The more I learned, the more I knew I wanted to contribute to nursing in a meaningful and transformative way.

Challenges That Shaped My Perspective

As I started getting into nursing and advanced throughout my career, I encountered challenges that influenced my outlook on healthcare. Two critical challenges that stood out everywhere I worked were the pursuit of quality patient care and the need for flexible staffing at facilities big and small.

1. Pursuit of Quality Care: A Shift in Perspective

Over the years, healthcare has undergone a major shift, moving toward a more collaborative and patient-focused approach. Today, nurses, who serve as the frontline caregivers, occupy a central and deeply respected role within a patient-centered care approach. 

Nurses are now highly regarded for their invaluable feedback and unique perspectives on patient care. They are recognized as experts in their field, equipped with extensive education and training that empowers them to provide patient-centered high quality care. 

They’re responsible for a wide array of duties, and they’re often viewed as experts who bring advanced clinical knowledge to the table – which enhances the quality of healthcare.

2. Flexible Staffing: Adapting to Change

Healthcare scheduling has long been rigid and inflexible. This type of scheduling created conflict and personal turmoil when it came to family responsibilities and personal well-being. 

The tides around scheduling really began to change in response to dire pandemic staffing levels. But in recent years, we’ve learned a lot about burnout and that long, unforgiving hours is one of the top contributors. However, we’re in the midst of a turning point as healthcare embraces technology to provide more flexible scheduling options. 

The Role of Technology in Shaping Nursing

Until the last decade or so, scheduling was a manual process, reliant on pen, paper and human intervention. Nurses knew that they were going to be working three or four 12 hour shifts, plus holidays and weekends with little wiggle room. Nurses had minimal control over their schedules, which research repeatedly shows – these factors lead to work dissatisfaction and burnout. 

However, the introduction of technology is revolutionizing this problem by creating flexibility for health systems and nurses alike. With electronic scheduling systems, particularly those that allow self-scheduling, nurses are now empowered and have a say in their work schedules. This has led to a much improved work-life balance. 

These systems mark a departure from antiquated scheduling methods, allowing nurses to choose shifts that suit their individual needs and personal lives, and ultimately improve their overall sense of well-being. 

Predictions for the Future of Nursing and Healthcare Staffing

Looking ahead, I see a future in nursing that prioritizes flexibility and autonomy for healthcare professionals. Healthcare organizations must adapt to this changing paradigm and listen to the frontline staff to provide more accommodating work arrangements. I am confident that the future of nursing will be marked by increased flexibility, enabling nurses to choose when and how they work, thus maintaining their work-life balance while delivering quality care.

The nursing and healthcare landscape has undergone significant transformation and will continue to do so. My advice is for nurses on the front lines to foster a sense of camaraderie, mentorship, and active engagement within our profession. I strongly recommend listening to and participating in professional organizations like the American Nurses Association (ANA) and other professional networking groups.

Being an active member of these organizations allows you to contribute to your community and lend your voice to the nursing community as a whole. By collectively advocating for change, we can pave the way for increased flexibility and adaptability in our approach to work whether it’s full time, part time, or somewhere in between. This engagement and collective effort are vital to our profession's evolution and continued success.

I learned a set of guiding principles from a long-time employer that I’ve followed throughout my career that have helped shape my approach to success in leadership and nursing. Maybe they’ll help you, too. It’s an acronym summarized as CPQI:

• Caring: Demonstrating care for oneself and others, mentoring individuals for their success, and aiding their career growth

• Person: Looking out for individuals, being their mentor, and facilitating their progress in their careers

• Quality: Prioritizing the delivery of top-quality care, especially for those in vulnerable states and their families

• Integrity: Upholding unwavering honesty, even in challenging situations, to set an example as a leader worth following and learning from

Remember that nursing is not just a profession; it's a calling to make a positive impact on the lives of patients and their families. Let’s continue to embrace flexibility, autonomy, and uphold the values that define us as nurses. Together, we can shape the future of healthcare and ensure that nursing remains a beacon of compassion and excellence.