title: Predicting the marginal cost of direct nursing care for newborns.
abstract: The author describes a study on the cost of nursing care for newborns using cost functions. A sample of 70 institutions in New Jersey were studied during a 2-year period. The models explained 95% of the variation of nursing costs in the study population. This information can be used by nurse executives to more appropriately make decisions about optimal unit size and the profitability of certain services.
authors.affiliation: Clayton State College, Department of Baccalaureate Nursing, Morrow, Georgia.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Samson
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009359:Neonatology / Q000191:economics*; D009515:New Jersey; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000379:methods; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics*; D011445:Prospective Payment System; D014481:United States