title: Evaluating the Veterans Health Administration's Staffing Methodology Model: A Reliable Approach.
abstract: All Veterans Health Administration facilities have been mandated to use a standardized method of determining appropriate direct-care staffing by nursing personnel. A multi-step process was designed to lead to projection of full-time equivalent employees required for safe and effective care across all inpatient units. These projections were intended to develop appropriate budgets for each facility. While staffing levels can be increased, even in facilities subject to budget and personnel caps, doing so requires considerable commitment at all levels of the facility. This commitment must come from front-line nursing personnel to senior leadership, not only in nursing and patient care services, but throughout the hospital. Learning to interpret and rely on data requires a considerable shift in thinking for many facilities, which have relied on historical levels to budget for staffing, but which does not take into account the dynamic character of nursing units and patient need.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yankey
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Annis
authors.forename: Kathleen S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Haddock
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alt-White
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Krein
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sales
mesh_terms: D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States