TY - JOUR
T1 - Appropriate Nurse Staffing Levels for U.S. Nursing Homes
AU - Harrington, Charlene
AU - Dellefield, Mary Ellen
AU - Halifax, Elizabeth
AU - Fleming, Mary Louise
AU - Bakerjian, Debra
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - US nursing homes are required to have sufficient nursing staff with the appropriate competencies to assure resident safety and attain or maintain the highest practicable level of physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident. Minimum nurse staffing levels have been identified in research studies and recommended by experts. Beyond the minimum levels, nursing homes must take into account the resident acuity to assure they have adequate staffing levels to meet the needs of residents. This paper presents a guide for determining whether a nursing home has adequate and appropriate nurse staffing. We propose five basic steps to: (1) determine the collective resident acuity and care needs, (2) determine the actual nurse staffing levels, (3) identify appropriate nurse staffing levels to meet residents care needs, (4) examine evidence regarding the adequacy of staffing, and (5) identify gaps between the actual staffing and the appropriate nursing staffing levels based on resident acuity. Data sources and specific methodologies are analyzed, compared, and recommended. The goal is to assist nursing home nurses and administrators to ensure adequate nursing home staffing levels that protect resident health, safety, and well-being.
AB - US nursing homes are required to have sufficient nursing staff with the appropriate competencies to assure resident safety and attain or maintain the highest practicable level of physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident. Minimum nurse staffing levels have been identified in research studies and recommended by experts. Beyond the minimum levels, nursing homes must take into account the resident acuity to assure they have adequate staffing levels to meet the needs of residents. This paper presents a guide for determining whether a nursing home has adequate and appropriate nurse staffing. We propose five basic steps to: (1) determine the collective resident acuity and care needs, (2) determine the actual nurse staffing levels, (3) identify appropriate nurse staffing levels to meet residents care needs, (4) examine evidence regarding the adequacy of staffing, and (5) identify gaps between the actual staffing and the appropriate nursing staffing levels based on resident acuity. Data sources and specific methodologies are analyzed, compared, and recommended. The goal is to assist nursing home nurses and administrators to ensure adequate nursing home staffing levels that protect resident health, safety, and well-being.
KW - nurse staffing
KW - Nursing homes
KW - quality
KW - safety
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087290473&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85087290473&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1178632920934785
DO - 10.1177/1178632920934785
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85087290473
VL - 13
JO - Health Services Insights
JF - Health Services Insights
SN - 1178-6329
ER -