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Determining nurse staffing needs: the workload intensity measurement system.

OBJECTIVE
To develop a prototype nursing workload intensity measurement system (WIMS).


BACKGROUND
Current nurse staffing was determined based on a development. The predetermined nurse-to-patient ratio of a measurement system in the present work environment was deemed essential.


METHODS
The study was conducted in a 1500-bed acute care hospital in Singapore. A questionnaire was designed to identify critical indicators for workload measurement. Nineteen wards were observed over a period of 1 week on day shifts. The WIMS was developed using regression modelling.


RESULTS
Nursing time required for a low-acuity ward increased from 90.5 to 177.1 hours per day. The WIMS was developed using nursing diagnoses as critical indicators of workload. The model (WIMS) yield R(2) values ranging from 0.615 to 0.736 across the six key disciplines, rendering it a model with relatively good predictive ability of nursing time required.


CONCLUSION
In such a rapidly changing work environment, workload measurement systems should be reviewed periodically. The WIMS was developed as a potential methodology for measuring staffing needs.


IMPLICATION FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT
Workload predictions should de-link patient dependency with acuity status as both do not correlate, as evidenced by this study.