Nine Principles for Improved Nurse Staffing

Abstract

Nurse staffing is complex. Nursing leaders have taken many initiatives to incorporate evidence and scientific data into nurse staffing. Midland Memorial Hospital (Texas) developed nine principles to improve nurse staffing. The principles include budgeting nursing resources and reconciling the position control or hiring plan created on a National Database of Nurse-Sensitive Quality Indicators 50th percentile for registered nurse hours per patient day. Nursing leaders must understand data-driven nurse staffing plans to communicate clearly and budget appropriately for nursing resources.