title: The Nurse-Patient Assignment: Purposes and Decision Factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Identify purposes and decision factors of the nurse-patient assignment process.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Nurse-patient assignments can positively impact patient, nurse, and environmental outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an exploratory study involving interviews with 14 charge nurses from 11 different nursing units in 1 community hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Charge nurses identified 14 purposes and 17 decision factors of the nurse-patient assignment process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The nurse-patient assignment is a complex process driven by the patient, nurse, and environment. Further study is needed to identify factors linked to patient safety, nurse, and environmental outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliation: Assistant Professor, Pace University, Pleasantville, New York.
authors.forename: Stephanie B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D005260:Female; D006788:Hospitals, Voluntary / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D015401:Nursing Administration Research / Q000379:methods; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D061214:Patient Safety; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D015144:Southeastern United States; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload