Application of productivity estimates to psychiatric nursing practice

Due to the current financial situation, productivity has become an overwhelming issue and decision-making device within the entire health care delivery system. Application of productivity estimates to nursing, and especially psychiatric nursing, is difficult because of the nature of nursing services and the elusiveness of productivity as a quantitative measure. With financial cutbacks expected to continue, the ability of nurses to account for the cost of their services is both timely and necessary. Psychiatric nurses should be knowledgeable of models in current use and aware of their usefulness and limitations.