RATIONALE: The paper considers the recent debate on mandating patient-nurse ratios in inpatient units of hospitals, and highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to requirement estimation, which can facilitate the implementation of mandated patient-nurse ratios in hospitals. AIM: After considering the available methods for nurse requirement planning, this paper intends to discuss an alternative approach for estimating nurse requirement when certain patient-nurse ratios have been prescribed. METHODS: Once the required information becomes available, the next task is to estimate unit-wise and overall nurse requirement. As the computational effort is quite considerable, the paper develops and elucidates a computer-assisted nurse requirement-planning model, which helps in systematizing and accelerating the estimation process. RESULTS: The computer-based nurse requirement-planning model enables planners to respond objectively and promptly to requests for more nurses by nursing administrators (who perceive nurse shortages). CONCLUSIONS: The paper demonstrates the unique advantage of this computer-based approach over conventional methods, especially when the planner wishes to pre-evaluate alternative decision options by simulating manpower implications under alternative scenarios.
RATIONALE: The paper considers the recent debate on mandating patient-nurse ratios in inpatient units of hospitals, and highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to requirement estimation, which can facilitate the implementation of mandated patient-nurse ratios in hospitals. AIM: After considering the available methods for nurse requirement planning, this paper intends to discuss an alternative approach for estimating nurse requirement when certain patient-nurse ratios have been prescribed. METHODS: Once the required information becomes available, the next task is to estimate unit-wise and overall nurse requirement. As the computational effort is quite considerable, the paper develops and elucidates a computer-assisted nurse requirement-planning model, which helps in systematizing and accelerating the estimation process. RESULTS: The computer-based nurse requirement-planning model enables planners to respond objectively and promptly to requests for more nurses by nursing administrators (who perceive nurse shortages). CONCLUSIONS: The paper demonstrates the unique advantage of this computer-based approach over conventional methods, especially when the planner wishes to pre-evaluate alternative decision options by simulating manpower implications under alternative scenarios.
Authors: Lucie Blok; Susan van den Hof; Sayoki G Mfinanga; Amos Kahwa; Esther Ngadaya; Liesbeth Oey; Marjolein Dieleman Journal: Hum Resour Health Date: 2012-05-28