Computerization of Patient Acuity and Nursing Care Planning: New Approach to Improved Patient Care and Cost-Effective Staffing

Abstract

As scarcity of finances, need for increased productivity, and reduction of human resources become repetitious agenda items in board meetings, nurse administrators must fight to preserve the professional nurse as that person most capable of performing quality nursing care within budgeted parameters. The key to success in this struggle is the ability to account for direct nursing care costs.¹ Nursing care has traditionally been grouped with laundry, housekeeping, and dietary departments in hospital billing, resulting in an uncertainty of the cost of nursing care. The cost of providing nursing care has been considered part of room costs; however, the assumption that professional nursing will always be recognized as an essential element of hospital care can no longer be maintained. Failure to identify the direct costs and rationale for the costs of nursing care could eventually result in replacement of professional nurses with ancillary personnel. Bed and bath teams are currently used by several facilities in order to supplement drastically reduced nursing staffs and maintain the targeted budget. Through delineation of nursing costs, the productivity level of professional nurses will be documented, and the question of “What does a nurse do?” shall be answered.