12 The Orthopedic Surgery department at the Monterey Health System is experiencing staffing and scheduling problems that include short-staffed nursing shifts, increased incidence of injury to the nursing staff, and decreasing nurse satisfaction. To address these issues, the department head is considering making adjustments to the staffing model and utilization targets, and has tasked an analyst with assessing FTE requirements under four different staffing models. The current time requirement for progressive care nurses (PCNs) is twenty-four hours, 102 hours for RNs, and fifty-one hours for care partners. The current utilization target is 90 percent. The benefit package for all three positions consists of an average paid time off of 9.69 days (based on nurse tenure).

Determine the core level of FTEs for each position.

Determine the final core levels of FTEs if all positions work on a 5/40 plan.

Determine the final core levels of FTEs if all positions work on a 3/36 plan.

Determine the final core levels of FTEs if PCNs and care partners work on a 3/36 plan and RNs work on a 5/40 plan.

Determine the final core levels of FTEs if PCNs and care partners work on a 5/40 plan and RNs work on a 3/36 plan.

Repeat parts (a) through (e) to determine the core levels of FTEs given an 80 percent utilization target. Discuss the implications of this change in utilization rate on staffing levels.