Decision making for nurse staffing: Canadian perspectives.
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.
Hall
Linda McGillis
LM
Faculty of Nursing & new investigator, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, University of Toronto, Ontario.
Pink
Leah
L
Lalonde
Michelle
M
Murphy
Gail Tomblin
GT
O'Brien-Pallas
Linda
L
Laschinger
Heather K Spence
HK
Tourangeau
Ann
A
Besner
Jeanne
J
White
Debbie
D
Tregunno
Deborah
D
Thomson
Donna
D
Peterson
Jessica
J
Seto
Lisa
L
Akeroyd
Jennifer
J
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