title: Using a Standard Staffing Index to allocate nursing staff.
abstract: The Standard Staffing Index (SSI) was established as a method to determine unit staffing needs and allocate staff effectively. Daily staffing is based on the SSI, the average patient acuity, and the unit census. This has resulted in time savings to determine staffing needs and accurate monitoring of staffing patterns and productivity by nurse managers. The SSI is based on specific patient needs as determined by regular evaluations and audits.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, TX.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neely
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010361:Patients / Q000145:classification; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000592:standards*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013781:Texas; D000078329:Workforce