title: Nursing at a crossroads: managing without facts.
abstract: Literature on variables relating to nursing structures, nursing support systems, and patient classification systems contains discrepancies in definitions and methods. This lack of systematic research results in uncertainty and renders comparisons untenable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Administration, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Pearson
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D010361:Patients / Q000145:classification; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States