ABSTRACT
Nurse managers in charge of a post-anaesthesia care unit (PACU) face the task of optimising staffing levels and must be able to justify staffing needs to the wider operational team. The high variability in patient numbers and acuity that characterises the PACU, as well as the broader factors that affect patient flow to and from the PACU, make it challenging to quantify staffing requirements. Staffing models often fail to reflect accurately the needs of patients and therefore the needs of the unit and there is no recommended model for quantifying PACU staffing requirements. In this article, the author describes the challenges of quantifying PACU staffing requirements and the suitability of different types of data. The author also discusses factors to consider when developing model for quantifying PACU staffing requirements.
Subject(s)
Anesthesia , Nursing Staff, Hospital , Postanesthesia Nursing , Humans , Personnel Staffing and Scheduling , WorkforceABSTRACT
Ward sisters and charge nurses have an important role in developing staff and caring for patients. However, not all are given the appropriate authority and resources to ensure wards are run most effectively. This article reports on paediatric team leader Katie Bagstaff, who was recently nominated for an award.
