Neonatology Staffing Practices: An In-Depth Exploration of Leaders' Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Medical Staffing
• Neonatology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Current literature details neonatology staffing issues but lacks ideal practice descriptions.
• Neonatology leaders' perspectives on optimal staffing are not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To capture neonatology leaders' views on ideal clinical work, nonclinical roles, shift structures, and flexibility.
• To inform the development of recommended staffing models in neonatology.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 26 neonatology leaders.
• Purposive sampling and directed content analysis of interview transcripts.
• Exploration of ideal staffing across clinical, nonclinical, shift, and flexibility domains.

Main Results:

• Ideal staffing includes full compensation for clinical hours and acknowledgment of nonclinical efforts.
• Workloads should vary based on team structure and patient factors; maximum shifts should be 24 hours.
• Equitable weekend assignments and individual physician-level flexibility with clear coverage plans are endorsed.

Conclusions:

• Neonatology leaders acknowledge staffing challenges and the need for change.
• Competing interests and complexities hinder the adoption of ideal staffing practices.
• Future efforts should focus on creating and measuring standardized, transparent staffing models.