The Nurse-Patient Assignment: Purposes and Decision Factors
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Updated: Mar 30, 2026

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Published on: February 16, 2011
1Author Affiliation: Assistant Professor, Pace University, Pleasantville, New York.
Objective:
Identify purposes and decision factors of the nurse-patient assignment process.
Background:
Nurse-patient assignments can positively impact patient, nurse, and environmental outcomes.
Methods:
This was an exploratory study involving interviews with 14 charge nurses from 11 different nursing units in 1 community hospital.
Results:
Charge nurses identified 14 purposes and 17 decision factors of the nurse-patient assignment process.
Conclusions:
The nurse-patient assignment is a complex process driven by the patient, nurse, and environment. Further study is needed to identify factors linked to patient safety, nurse, and environmental outcomes.
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