Abstract
[This is an excerpt.] Have you ever struggled to classify a patient's acuity level? If so, you're not alone. Have you ever looked at your patient assignments and wondered, "Why are the assignments so unfair? How will I care for all my patients effectively?" Again, you're not alone. Most nurses expect patient assignments to be equitable, with each nurse bearing a fair share of the workload so all patients can receive excellent care. Nurses' job satisfaction depends partly on their workload and their perceived ability to deliver high quality care. Nurse-sensitive indicators (including pressure ulcers, falls, medication errors, nosocomial infections, pain management, and patient satisfaction) depend largely on nursing care and are affected by nurses' ability to recognize and intervene when a patient's condition changes. Nursing workloads directly influence a nurse's ability to assess thoroughly and promote excellent patient outcomes. When patient assignments aren't equitable, nurses may feel inadequate and frustrated. [To read more, click View Resource.]
This resource is found in our Actionable Strategies for Health Organizations: Improving Workload & Workflows (Safe & Appropriate Staffing).
