Identifying Resources
The project for this class involves the development of a strategic plan. At this point in the COVID-19 pandemic, it is known that COVID-19 patients require an increased hospital length
of stay (LOS) (Grossman, personal communication, April 16, 2020). With this knowledge, this writer will be developing a strategic plan for the opening of a new Ventilatory Care Unit (VCU)
for COVID-19 patients requiring long-term ventilation. “Strategic planning requires resource management (ongoing evaluation of resource utilization); the most expensive and difficult to
manage is the human resource (recall that nursing is in a crisis)” (Sage & Ogilvie, 2010, p. 23). A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis was performed as a part of
the strategic plan.
The following were named as weaknesses in regards to opening this new unit: (a) staff shortage, (b) shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), and (c) the diversion of
funds from other needed programs. The following threats were identified in this SWOT analysis: (a) risk of staff contracting COVID-19, (b) the psychological impact that COVID-19 will have
on staff and patients, (c)risk of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) in patients, (d) the national post-COVID-19 economic status as well as (e) the organization’s financial status.
One of the most obvious resources needed is financial assistance from the federal government (Grossman, personal communication, April 16, 2020). It is estimated that NYU Langone
is losing $450 million per month in revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic (Grossman, personal communication, April 16, 2020). In addition to decreased COVID-19 reimbursements,
the freeze on elective surgeries also contributes to the loss of revenue that the hospital is facing. As a result of this loss of revenue, the organization is currently in the midst of a hiring freeze.
This could contribute to the staffing shortage, with staffing being a necessary resource (Grossman, personal communication, April 16, 2020).
In response to the increased demand for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, registered nurses (RNs) were up trained to ICU, which is a strength that could prove to decrease the strain of
staffing the VCU. Additionally, NYU Langone quickly opened surge units that are now closed, but the space remains available and ready for this unit. This will decreases the time needed
to open said unit. While the threat of the unknown long-term implications of COVID-19 remains, this unit will allow for new COVID-19 explorations.
NYU Langone currently has over 30 programs providing mental health resources for frontline staff as well as families affected by COVID-19 (NYU Langone Health, 2020). These
resources, if utilized appropriately, will reflect positively in regards to the psychological impact of COVID-19 which was identified as a threat to the opening of the VCU. Resources are needed
to educate staff on PICS.
According to NYU Langone Health’s Dean and CEO, Robert Grossman, FEMA, state, and federal governments have all reacted differently to the PPE shortage, causing chaos. Despite
the chaos, a needed resource, supply chain, has worked tirelessly with manufacturers to ensure that adequate and legit PPE was available for staff members throughout this pandemic. As a
result, the potential for a lack of PPE is currently lower than at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
References
NYU Langone Health. Mental Health Resources. Retrieved from
https://ihub.nyumc.org/psp/paprod_7/EMPLOYEE/EMPL/s/WEBLIB_IS_AW.ISCRIPT1.FieldFormula.IScript_AssemblePage?
AWGroupID=N_COV19_MENTAL_HEALTH_RESOURCE&AWPageID=N_COV19_MENTAL_HEALTH_RESOURCE&AWObjName=N_COV19_MENTAL_HEALTH_LPG#a-2a

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