title: Nursing workload in the acute-care setting: A concept analysis of nursing workload.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A pressing need in the field of nursing is the identification of optimal staffing levels to ensure patient safety. Effective staffing requires comprehensive measurement of nursing workload to determine staffing needs. Issues surrounding nursing workload are complex, and the volume of workload is growing; however, many workload systems do not consider the numerous workload factors that impact nursing today.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this concept analysis was to better understand and define nursing workload as it relates to the acute-care setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rogers' evolutionary method was used for this literature-based concept analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nursing workload is influenced by more than patient care. The proposed definition of nursing workload may help leaders identify workload that is unnoticed and unmeasured.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings could help leaders consider and identify workload that is unnecessary, redundant, or more appropriate for assignment to other members of the health care team.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family, Community Health, and Systems, School of Nursing, The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, AL. Electronic address: pswiger@uab.edu.
authors.forename: Pauline A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Swiger
authors.affiliation: Department of Family, Community Health, and Systems, School of Nursing, The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, AL.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Vance
authors.affiliation: Department of Family, Community Health, and Systems, School of Nursing, The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, AL.
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Patrician
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Concept analysis; Nursing workload; Workload measurement