What should be included in a nursing staffing plan?

A comprehensive nursing staffing plan should include patient acuity, staff competencies, and departmental needs. Patient acuity refers to the severity and complexity of patients' conditions, which directly influences the amount and type of nursing care required. By assessing patient acuity, the staffing plan can ensure that there are enough nurses with the right skill sets to manage the specific needs of the patient population effectively.

Staff competencies are also crucial to the staffing plan. The plan should match the qualifications and skills of the nursing staff with the requirements of the patient population they serve. This alignment ensures that nurses are equipped to deliver high-quality care and respond to the needs of patients appropriately.

Departmental needs reflect the unique requirements of different units or departments within a healthcare facility, such as varying nurse-to-patient ratios, specific skills needed for particular specialties, and operational demands. Including these factors ensures that the staffing plan is tailored to each department's situation, ultimately contributing to more effective patient care and improved outcomes.

In contrast, focusing solely on the number of nurses available fails to account for the qualifications and the specific needs of the patient population, which can lead to inadequate care. Only using patient satisfaction surveys does not provide a holistic view of the staffing needs and fails to address the actual healthcare delivery aspects