| Hyo-Jeong Yoon | 2 Articles |
Purpose
To develop a web-based solution for patient need-driven staffing (PNDS) that automatically determines nurses’ staffing requirements. Methods: Activities provided by nurses in four integrated nursing care wards (INCWs) and non-INCWs each in a tertiary hospital were observed over three days. Nursing hours per patient hour (NHPPH) were calculated by dividing nursing hours by patient stay hours per day. Patient needs were evaluated using 19 items. Results: The nurse-patient ratios in INCWs and non-INCWs were 1:4.5 and 1:8.1 (including overtime), respectively. Admitted and transferred-in patients had higher NHPPHs than those with continuing stays. The patients were classified into five groups: Group A for admissions and transfers-in, and Groups 1~4 for the remainder. In INCWs, the nurse-patient ratios ranged from 1:5.3 (Group 1) to 1:2.4 (Group 4), and Group A required 1:3.0, the secondhighest level. In non-INCWs, ratios ranged from 1:9.4 (Group 1) to 1:5.2 (Group 4 and Group A). The PNDS solution was developed to determine staffing requirements by classifying patients into five groups using the entered data on patient needs, assigning the group’s NHPPH to each patient, and calculating the staffing ratio required in the unit. Conclusion: The PNDS is expected to support staffing decisions to meet patient needs. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
Purpose
To compare actual versus expected nursing hours based on patients’ nursing care needs. Methods The nursing care needs of 898 inpatients in 20 wards at 11 hospitals were measured using the 14 items developed by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Nursing activities from 474 nursing personnel were observed every 10 minutes for 24 hours. Actual hours indicated direct care hours per patient day provided by registered nurses according to 3 types: (1) standard hours based on staffing standards approved by the NHIS, (2) scheduled hours excluding overtime hours, and (3) observed hours including overtime. Expected hours were estimated from the linear mixed effect model including hospital type, nursing care need items and their interaction terms. Results Standard hours ranged from 0.92 to 2.15; scheduled hours from 0.88 to 1.95; observed hours from 1.00 to 2.40; expected hours from 0.88 to 2.33. Eight hospitals had standard hours not meeting the expected hours and 2 hospitals did observed hours not meeting the expected hours due to nurses’ overtime. In 3 hospitals, all types of actual hours exceeded the expected hours. Conclusion Staffing needs to be determined based on patients’ care needs and to be improved to minimize nurses’ overtime work. Citations Citations to this article as recorded by
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