Cost Analysis of Providing Overtime to Current Nurses Versus Hiring a Dedicated Nurse for COVID-19 Management in a Processing Plant.

BACKGROUND

U.S. meat and poultry processing workers experienced a disproportionate burden of COVID-19 illness following the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Managing prevention and surveillance activities for COVID-19 prevention required additional work for occupational health nurses. The purpose of this project was to conduct a cost analysis for two staffing options to address the increased workload for occupational health nurses.

METHODS

An economic quality improvement design was used for this study. The project was performed at a meat and poultry processing plant with 1,800 employees and six occupational health nurses. Two staffing options were considered. Option 1 was to continue to pay current occupational health nurses overtime, and Option 2 was to hire a COVID-dedicated nurse to manage the increased workload. A cost analysis was conducted for wages per hour plus benefits at three time points: 3 months, 1 year, and 3 years.

FINDINGS

Costs for Option 1 (continuing overtime) at 3 months, 1 year, and 3 years were estimated at US$27,370, US$109,517, and US$328,550, respectively. Costs for Option 2 (hiring a COVID-dedicated nurse) at 3 months, 1 year, and 3 years were estimated at US$44,279, US$94,979, and US$230,179, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS/APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: Hiring a dedicated COVID nurse would save the processing plant extensive salary costs by Year 3. Reducing overtime had the potential to decrease the COVID-19-related workload and potential experiences of fatigue and burnout in occupational health nurses.