Exploring the Evidence: Considerations for the Dialysis Practice Setting Approach to Staffing.

Nursing remains one of the most in-demand jobs in the American workforce. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has created strain on nursing resources throughout the health care industry and drawn attention to longstanding workforce issues. Inadequate staffing is often a multidimensional problem that warrants a comprehensive assessment of elements that may contribute to recruitment and retention issues. In the dialysis practice setting, nursing shortages remain an ongoing issue due to an aging workforce and ongoing issues for recruiting nurses both new and skilled into the field of nephrology. This article explores the evidence on approaches to staffing in the dialysis practice setting by defining core elements to consider when designing a staffing model. These elements include federal/state regulations, patient acuity, staff ratios, workforce perceptions, patient outcomes, and dialysis modalities offered.