Date of Graduation
Summer 8-18-2015
Document Access
Project/Capstone - Global access
Degree Name
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
College/School
School of Nursing and Health Professions
First Advisor
Elena Capella
Abstract
Increasing cardiac device patient demands within a large Midwest healthcare institution resulted in significant increases in staff shift requirements and corresponding patient complaints. The quality improvement project aimed to decrease patient complaints by executing a standard baseline daily full time equivalent (FTE) staffing strategy for future schedules, increasing nursing FTE, and maintaining institutional staffing standards. Standard calculated daily nursing requirements targeted 17.0 FTE. Implementation occurred over a three month period including schedule reprocessing, a pending incremental nursing FTE request, and a restructuring of unit based scheduling and paid time off guidelines. The completed schedule accurately captured staffing requirements for 100% of the shifts over an eight week schedule while maintaining individual staff baseline FTE. Anticipated improvements include a decrease in 25% of patient complaints and will be evaluated during the first six months post project implementation. The clinical nurse leader theme is Care Environment Manager: Team Manager focusing on refining nursing working conditions to advance patient care. Maintaining appropriate staff ratios and reducing associated error risks demonstrates a rationale for improved nurse job satisfaction preceding an improvement in patient care and satisfaction.
Recommended Citation
Romme, Abby, "Improving Patient Satisfaction through Reducing Nurse Overtime and Redesigning Nurse Staffing and Scheduling" (2015). Master's Projects and Capstones. 169.
https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/169
