Nurses' Perceived Adequacy of Staffing and Scheduling Systems

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Nurse staffing and scheduling significantly impact job satisfaction.
• Limited research exists on the specific effects of acuity and scheduling systems on nurse perceptions.
• Understanding these impacts is crucial for optimizing the nursing work environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the influence of a new acuity and scheduling system.
• To assess nurses' perceptions of staffing adequacy.
• To measure nurses' satisfaction with scheduling processes.

Main Methods:

• Convenience sample of 1100 nurses surveyed before and after system implementation.
• Surveys measured satisfaction with staffing and scheduling.
• Mann-Whitney U tests analyzed pre-post survey response differences.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements in nurse satisfaction with scheduling and staffing processes were observed (P < 0.05).
• The study included primarily female registered nurses (78%) in their late 30s with college degrees.
• Participants worked predominantly in inpatient units.

Conclusions:

• Implementation of an empowered scheduling system enhances nurse engagement.
• The new system significantly improves nurse satisfaction.
• This approach can strengthen workforce stability and resilience.