By Trusted
The Clinical Workforce
Handbook.
AI-powered strategies for building clinical workforce programs — scheduling models, staffing strategies, and intelligent automation for the modern healthcare organization.
Dedication
To the fearless nurse leaders who are dreaming of —and building—a new flexible nurse workforce for the future.
Introduction
A wholistic approach to workforce flexibility can cure the nurse staffing crisis — moving beyond symptom management to solving the root cause.
Part 1
Build the Foundation
Workforce Flexibility
What flexible work means to nurses and leaders, the scheduling vs. staffing distinction, and how AI enables workforce flexibility at scale.
Organizational Assessment & Design
Assessing scheduling and staffing structure, policies, dedicated teams, shared governance, and AI readiness for optimal workforce flexibility.
Staffing & Scheduling Models
Centralized, decentralized, and hybrid models — advantages, drawbacks, and principles for choosing the right fit.
Workforce System Technology
Building a workforce technology ecosystem — from HRIS to AI-powered scheduling systems — and evaluating AI capabilities.
Part 2
Operationalize the Structure
Raising the Pillars
Core principles for operationalizing flexibility: team approach, policies, cross-training, education, goals, and starting small.
Scheduling, Staffing & Incentive Programs
Scheduling flexibility, staffing corrections, building a proactive tiered incentive program, and AI-powered dynamic pricing.
Vendor Management & Credentialing
VMS technology, AI-powered credentialing, vendor performance scoring, and the vendor management lifecycle.
Part 3
Incorporate Flexible Workforce Programs
Internal Travel Agency
Building an internal travel agency in four steps — from setting the stage to operationalizing the plan — with AI-powered matching, ROI models, and checklists.
Gig Nurse Programs
Primary and secondary gig nursing positions — AI-powered shift marketplaces, flexibility for nurses, coverage for organizations.
More Innovative Flexible Work Options
Weekend programs, resource nurses, telehealth models, career pathways, and mentor/preceptor programs for workforce flexibility.
External Travel & Per Diem Nurses
Managing external travel nurse assignments and per diem programs to maximize flexibility and minimize costs.
Part 4
Leverage AI & Analytics
AI in Scheduling & Staffing
AI in nurse scheduling and staffing — the structural staffing gap, the scheduling lifecycle, dynamic pricing, and intelligent workforce orchestration.
Forecasting
The forecasting process, barriers to effective forecasting, and strategies for data-driven workforce management.
Auto-Balanced Scheduling
How constraint-based optimization transforms manual schedule balancing — hard and soft constraints, scoring models, KPIs, and the digital twin approach.
Tools & Resources
Checklists, assessment tools, and reference materials for implementing flexible workforce programs.