title: Using OR patient classification for staffing assignments.
abstract: Traditionally, one nurse is assigned per OR. Recent health care reforms and the AORN "Position statement on perioperative safe staffing and on-call practices" require managers to rethink this practice. Staffing levels that are insufficient have been linked to sentinel events. A patient classification system that includes patient acuity and procedure complexity can be used to determine which surgical procedures require more than one RN circulator and offer a scientific basis for increasing staff budgetary requests. The goal is to experience fewer sentinel events while providing better patient care and achieving higher nurse retention.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D009871:Operating Room Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D062072:Patient Acuity; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009626:Terminology as Topic
keywords: OR staffing; nurse staffing; nursing assignments; patient classification