The Joint Commission’s staffing effectiveness standard defines staffing effectiveness as “the number, competency, and skill mix of staff in relation to the provision of needed care and treatment” (see www.jointcommission.org/NR/rdonlyres/979B4315-F409-476B-  810C-22F0F0CB3BD5/0/hap_cah_sii_ hr130.pd). Most healthcare organizations must meet this requirement to receive Joint Commission accreditation, and that accreditation is paramount to the ability of hospitals to operate and receive reimbursement.

Questions

Visit two patient care units at a local hospital and talk to the manager in each one. Ask the following questions of each manager:
1. How has your unit implemented the Joint Commission’s staffing effectiveness standards?
2. How have unit operations changed as a result of this implementation?
3. How has this implementation affected the quality of care delivered to patients on your unit?
4. How has the nursing staff on your unit responded to this implementation? Following the interview, compare and contrast the two approaches followed by each manager for meeting the required staffing effectiveness standards. Is one approach better than the other? How can you use the experiences of these two-unit managers to inform your own nurse workload and staffing decisions in the future?