Why has the average time to fill open shifts on Nursa increased from 2 hours to 6 hours in the past quarter?

Introduction

The increase in average time to fill open shifts on Nursa from 2 hours to 6 hours over the past quarter is a critical issue that demands immediate attention. This significant slowdown in shift fulfillment could have far-reaching consequences for healthcare facilities, nurses, and ultimately patient care. I'll approach this problem systematically, focusing on identifying the root cause, validating hypotheses, and developing both short-term fixes and long-term solutions.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking there might be seasonal factors at play. Has there been any change in the overall volume of shift requests during this period?

Why it matters: Seasonal fluctuations could explain the increase in fill time. Expected answer: Shift volume has remained relatively stable. Impact on approach: If volume hasn't changed, we'll focus more on internal factors.

• Considering user segments, I'm curious about the nurse-to-shift ratio. Has there been any significant change in the number of active nurses on the platform compared to available shifts?

Why it matters: An imbalance could directly impact fill times. Expected answer: The ratio has remained relatively constant. Impact on approach: If the ratio is stable, we'll investigate other factors affecting nurse engagement or shift attractiveness.

• Thinking about recent changes, have there been any updates to the shift allocation algorithm or the user interface in the past quarter?

Why it matters: Technical changes could inadvertently affect shift fill times. Expected answer: A minor update was made to the recommendation system. Impact on approach: This could be a key area to investigate for potential unintended consequences.

• Regarding performance metrics, has the definition of "time to fill" remained consistent, and are we confident in the accuracy of the measurement system?

Why it matters: Ensures we're comparing apples to apples and not chasing a data anomaly. Expected answer: The definition and measurement system have not changed. Impact on approach: If confirmed, we can focus on actual performance issues rather than measurement discrepancies.