Recommendation ID
SG1/3
Question
What is the effectiveness of using defined approaches or decision support toolkits to determine nursing staff requirements and skill mix on acute adult inpatient wards in the UK?
Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)
Insufficient evidence is available about whether using defined approaches or decision support toolkits for determining nurse staffing requirements has an impact on patient and staff outcomes.Cluster randomised controlled trials or prospective cohort studies should be designed to compare outcomes relating to nursing care, patient safety, and patients' and nursing staff satisfaction on acute adult inpatient wards that use defined approaches or decision support toolkits to other approaches or professional judgement. Replicate studies should be carried out to provide evidence of reliability and validity. These comparative studies should help to assess the value of using defined approaches and decision support aids, and to identify those that perform best.

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance
Safe staffing for nursing in adult inpatient wards in acute hospitals
Number
SG1
Date issued
July 2014

Other details

Is this a recommendation for the use of a technology only in the context of research? No  
Is it a recommendation that suggests collection of data or the establishment of a register?   No  
Last Reviewed 07/10/2014