Module 8

Question 1

What is the goal of staffing?

Answer 1

• Provide the RIGHT number of nurses
• Deliver safe, high-quality , cost-effective care to patients
• Positive health outcomes

Question 2

True/False: There is NO perfect staffing method.

Answer 2

True! JCO/CMS just tells you to have the right amount of people on staff, NOT how to staff.

Question 3

What does conceptual framework for nursing staffing and patient outcomes tell you?

Answer 3

How complex staffing is.

Question 4

Topics in the Conceptual Framework?

Answer 4

• Patient Factors
• Nurse Characteristics
• Nurse Staffing
• Nurse Outcome
• Hospital Factors
• Organizational Factors
• Patient Outcomes
• Medical Care
• Length of Stay

Question 5

Conceptual Framework: Nursing Staffing

Answer 5

Hours/patient day
- delivered care hours
- total paid hours
Skill mix
Nurse staffing ratio

Question 6

Conceptual Framework:
Patient Factors

Answer 6

Age
Primary diagnosis
Acuity and severity
Co-morbidities
Treatment stage

Question 7

Conceptual Framework:
Nurse Characteristics

Answer 7

Education
Experience
Age
Contract nurses
Internationally trained nurses

Question 8

Conceptual Framework:
Hospital Factors

Answer 8

Size
Volume
Teaching
Technology

Question 9

Conceptual Framework:
Nurse Outcome

Answer 9

Satisfaction
Retention rate
Burnout rate

Question 10

Conceptual Framework:
Organizational Factors

Answer 10

Clinical units
Duration of shifts
Shift rotation

Question 11

Conceptual Framework:
Patient Outcomes

Answer 11

Mortality
Adverse drug events
Patient satisfaction
Nurse quality outcomes

Question 12

Name 8 adequate staffing outcomes.

Answer 12

1. Reduce medical/medicine errors and potential for errors
2. Decreased patient complaints
3. Decreased mortality
4. Improved patient satisfaction
5. Reduced nursing fatigue
6. Increased job retention
7. Decreased length of stay for patients
8. Reduced readmissions

Question 13

What is staffing?

Answer 13

Process of identifying and allocating nurses on a unit. (daily shift to shift operation)

Question 14

Staffing does NOT focus on _____ but ____?

Answer 14

Does NOT focus on numbers, but acuity of patients.

Question 15

Skill mix is…

Answer 15

the combination of categories of workers employed to take care of the patients

Question 16

Skill mix includes what staff? What hospital has a good idea of a skill mix?

Answer 16

Includes RN, LPN, CNA; Methodist University

Question 17

What is a staffing pattern?

Answer 17

Total number of direct-care staff by level of skill scheduled for each day and each shift

Question 18

How is staffing pattern determined?

Answer 18

Forecasted workload and recommended standard

Question 19

What does average daily census (ADC) tell you?

Answer 19

Forecasted Workload

Question 20

What does the hour per patient day (HPPD) tell you?

Answer 20

Recommended Standard

Question 21

What is the HPPD?

Answer 21

Hours of nursing care provided per patient by various levels of nursing personnel

Question 22

How do you get the HPPD?

Answer 22

Add all staff hours (RN+CNA+US+NM) and divide by # of patients

Question 23

How do you get the average daily census?

Answer 23

sum of daily census for the year divided by 365 days

Question 24

Example of someone with 1 FTE.

Answer 24

UTHSC Professors

Question 25

Example of people with 0.9 FTE.

Answer 25

Nurse working three 12hr shifts

Question 26

Does Full Time Equivalent (FTE) equal people?

Answer 26

No, its used for staffing pattern.

Question 27

What is patient acuity?

Answer 27

Severity of illness, complexity of care needs

Question 28

Factors that affect acuity?

Answer 28

• Age of patient
• Technology
• Social support
• Functional ability
• Communication skills
• Procedures scheduled
• Complexity of care needed
• Geography of environment
• Availability of technology
• Experience of staff

Question 29

What is scheduling?

Answer 29

Process of determining a set number and type of staff for a future time; assigning individual personnel to work specific hours, days, and shifts in a specific unit