Who this is for: MyShyft Facility Users
An unfilled healthcare shift can cost more than the hours left uncovered.
When a facility doesn’t have enough staff, the impact can spread across the organization – from overtime expenses and employee burnout to operational challenges and continuity of care.
Understanding these hidden costs can help facilities take a more proactive approach to staffing.
Increased Overtime Costs
When a shift remains open, existing employees may be asked to stay late, come in early, or work an additional shift.
One unfilled shift may therefore create additional overtime expenses elsewhere on the schedule.
When this happens regularly, overtime can become a significant part of your facility’s labor costs.
Increased Pressure on Your Core Team
A staffing shortage doesn’t eliminate the work that needs to be completed.
Instead, remaining employees may have to manage additional responsibilities.
Over time, repeated understaffing can contribute to:
- Fatigue
- Stress
- Lower morale
- Burnout
- Decreased job satisfaction
A single open shift may seem temporary, but repeated gaps can have a lasting effect on your team.
Greater Risk of Turnover
When employees are repeatedly asked to cover shortages, staffing challenges can become retention challenges.
Losing an experienced employee creates additional costs associated with recruiting, onboarding, training, and covering their shifts while a replacement is found.
Preventing burnout can therefore be an important part of controlling long-term staffing costs.
Operational Disruptions
Unfilled shifts can also make everyday operations more difficult.
Depending on the healthcare setting, staffing shortages may affect:
- Assignments and scheduling
- Admissions or census capacity
- Staff workload
- Manager responsibilities
- Patient or resident experience
- Continuity of care
Managers may also spend valuable time trying to find coverage instead of focusing on other operational priorities.
Less Flexibility When Demand Changes
Healthcare staffing needs aren’t always predictable.
Call-offs, census changes, vacations, and other unexpected needs can quickly create openings.
Facilities without an established PRN workforce may have fewer options when those changes occur.
Why a Reliable PRN Pool Matters
Building a dependable PRN pool gives your facility another layer of coverage.
With MyShyft, facilities can connect with qualified caregivers for individual shifts while developing relationships with professionals who can return in the future.
Favoriting and rebooking dependable caregivers can help turn one-time coverage into a more consistent staffing resource.
Look Beyond the Hourly Cost
When evaluating staffing costs, don’t look only at the hourly rate of the person filling the shift.
Consider the potential cost of leaving it open:
Unfilled Shift > Overtime > Staff Fatigue > Burnout > Turnover > More Staffing Gaps
Preventing that cycle can have value far beyond filling a single shift.
Put a Number Behind Your Staffing Costs
The cost of an open shift can extend beyond the shift itself. Overtime, staffing shortages, and reliance on higher-cost coverage can all affect your overall labor expenses.
The MyShyft Cost Savings Calculator can help your facility take a closer look at those costs and compare them with using MyShyft to supplement your workforce.
See what your current staffing strategy could be costing your facility—and how building a flexible PRN workforce may help.
Calculate your Potential savings here.
Build a More Proactive Staffing Strategy
MyShyft helps facilities respond to staffing gaps while building a flexible PRN workforce for future needs.
A stronger PRN strategy can help:
- Fill open shifts faster
- Reduce overtime
- Support permanent employees
- Improve staffing flexibility
- Reduce pressure on managers
- Build relationships with returning caregivers
- Maintain greater continuity of care
The cost of an unfilled shift isn’t always visible on the schedule. Its impact can reach your employees, operations, patients, and bottom line.
Schedule a 15-minute demo with the MyShyft team to learn more!