The Nurse-Patient Assignment: Purposes and Decision Factors

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Care Coordination

Background:

• Nurse-patient assignments significantly influence patient outcomes, nurse satisfaction, and the overall healthcare environment.
• Effective assignment processes are crucial for optimizing resource allocation and ensuring quality patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the various purposes of the nurse-patient assignment process.
• To determine the key decision factors utilized by charge nurses during nurse-patient assignments.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory study design was employed.
• Data were collected through interviews with 14 charge nurses.
• Participants were recruited from 11 distinct nursing units within a single community hospital.

Main Results:

• Charge nurses identified a total of 14 distinct purposes for the nurse-patient assignment process.
• Seventeen different decision factors influencing these assignments were reported by charge nurses.

Conclusions:

• The nurse-patient assignment process is intricate, influenced by patient-specific needs, nurse capabilities, and environmental considerations.
• Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the specific factors correlating with enhanced patient safety, improved nurse well-being, and positive environmental outcomes.