A recent publication from ECG Management Consultants discusses how to optimize nurse staffing so that it meets your organization's overall goals.
Editor's Note: This publication originally appeared on ECG Management Consultant's website.
As a required condition of participation in the Medicare program, the federal government prescribes broad and generalized directions to hospitals on the provision of nurse and patient care staffing. Federal regulations state that “nursing service must have adequate numbers of licensed registered nurses, licensed practical (vocational) nurses, and other personnel to provide nursing care to all patients as needed.” Concerns about unsafe staffing levels have led unions, state governments, and the federal government to increasingly promote minimum nurse staffing guidelines, which in turn is placing pressure on hospitals and health systems because that legislation will specify mandatory levels of nurse staffing for acute care hospitals. Currently, 14 states have laws that address nurse staffing, but California is the only state requiring minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for every unit in the hospital, at all times.
Reviewing, analyzing, and benchmarking your organization’s current staffing models and daily management systems now may mitigate the potential impact of nurse staffing legislation in the future and improve long-term financial viability without compromising patient safety, clinical quality, and the patient experience. The first step toward optimizing your nurse staffing models is to analyze your current staffing plans by unit or department and by shift, then compare your organization’s nursing models to those at similar hospitals in your region. The types of benchmarks you should consider using are:
Staffing Levels: Utilizing multiple metrics, compare current nurse and unlicensed assistive personnel levels to identify opportunities to adjust your staffing levels. Continue here to keep reading>>
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