title: Decision making for nurse staffing: Canadian perspectives.
abstract: The effectiveness of methods for determining nurse staffing is unknown. Despite a great deal of interest in Canada, efforts conducted to date indicate that there is a lack of consensus on nurse staffing decision-making processes. This study explored nurse staffing decision-making processes, supports in place for nurses, nursing workload being experienced, and perceptions of nursing care and outcomes in Canada. Substantial information was provided from participants about the nurse staffing decision-making methods currently employed in Canada including frameworks for nurse staffing, nurse-to-patient ratios, workload measurement systems, and "gut" instinct. A number of key themes emerged from the study that can form the basis for policy and practice changes related to determining appropriate workload for nursing in Canada. These include the use of (a) staffing principles and frameworks, (b) nursing workload measurement systems, (c) nurse-to-patient ratios, and (d) the need for uptake of evidence related to nurse staffing.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing & new investigator, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, University of Toronto, Ontario.
authors.forename: Linda McGillis
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pink
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lalonde
authors.forename: Gail Tomblin
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Brien-Pallas
authors.forename: Heather K Spence
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Laschinger
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tourangeau
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Besner
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tregunno
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Seto
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Akeroyd
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D016294:Models, Nursing; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration; D016134:Organizational Policy; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012107:Research Design; D016526:Workload