Report Offers Ways to Make Nurse Managers More Effective

Hospital leaders should examine the responsibilities and number of front-line nurses assigned to nurse managers ─ commonly known as span of control ─ and how this affects their ability to deliver strong outcomes and maintain purposeful interactions, according to a report from AONL and Laudio, a data analysis platform. Optimizing nurse managers’ span of control and making strategic investments to support them can increase nurse retention, reduce overtime, decrease burnout and improve patient outcomes and experience. The report urges executives to reduce the highest spans of control, if possible; consider adding a nurse manager; add an assistant manager where they will have the greatest positive financial impact; and help nurse managers to maintain consistent, purposeful interactions with staff. (AHA Market Scan article, 4/30/24)