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Validation of a tool to measure neonatal nursing workload
Author(s) -
SAWATZKYDICKSON DORIS,
BODNARYK KAREN
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of nursing management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.925
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1365-2834
pISSN - 0966-0429
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2834.2008.00877.x
Subject(s) - workload , nursing , nursing management , staffing , workforce , reliability (semiconductor) , medicine , nursing outcomes classification , asset (computer security) , nursing care , primary nursing , quality (philosophy) , test (biology) , nurse education , computer science , paleontology , power (physics) , philosophy , physics , computer security , epistemology , quantum mechanics , economics , biology , economic growth , operating system
Aims To test the validity and reliability of the Winnipeg Assessment of Neonatal Nursing Needs Tool (WANNNT). Background Workforce planning is increasingly challenging. Existing tools can be inadequate. Methods Nurses provided estimates of patient care time. Charge nurses assessed overall safety of care. Patient levels were compared between two independent assessors. Total nursing needs was compared between the WANNNT and an independent charge nurse. Results Mean time estimates for levels 1–5 were not significantly different from the WANNNT. Nurses estimated 50% less time than the tool assigned level 6. The tool was 95% reliable in assigning patient levels between two assessors. The mean difference between the total WANNNT assessment and the charge nurse was one nurse. Conclusions The tool provided a reasonable and reliable estimation of the number of nurses required for a given collection of patients in order to provide the highest quality of care. Implications for nursing management Nurse managers incorporating this tool need to determine the additional drivers for nursing time that must be considered which may be unique to their unit or hospital. The WANNNT will be a valuable asset for making staffing decisions on a shift to shift and long‐term basis.