Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 10, 2026

Description of a Swine Infant Model of Volume-Controlled Hemorrhagic Shock
Published on: November 3, 2023
Describing Pediatric Emergency Department Nurse Staffing Models and Unit Characteristics in Pediatric Hospitals in
Introduction:
Hospitals across the United States experience critical nursing shortages and high turnover across all nursing roles. High nurse vacancy rates present ongoing challenges for emergency departments and may negatively affect patient care. Detrimental effects include overcrowding, longer waiting times, and delayed or missed nursing care. Amid a national nursing crisis, little is known regarding the staffing strategies employed by pediatric emergency departments. The purpose of this study was to provide a foundational description of the current staffing models and unit characteristics of pediatric emergency departments in the United States.
Methods:
Nurse leaders were invited to participate in a 2-phase study using a descriptive qualitative inquiry and a cross-sectional survey methodology. Phase 1 included private, semistructured interviews via Zoom. The themes discovered during Phase 1 informed the development of Phase 2, an electronic survey distributed via email. Descriptive statistics and content analyses were used to summarize the results.
Results:
Nurse leaders from 4 pediatric emergency departments participated in Phase 1 interviews. Three recurring themes regarding staffing challenges emerged: staffing nonemergency nurses to fill vacancies, retaining experienced nurses, and boarding patients that impeded patient flow. Nurse leaders from 9 pediatric emergency departments completed the Phase 2 electronic survey, describing their nursing and unit characteristics and available resources. Results indicated that most hospitals determined staffing decisions using census predictions and highlighted variability in nursing and unit characteristics across institutions.
Discussion:
A foundational description of the nursing and unit characteristics of pediatric emergency departments demonstrates variation among institutions. Consensus regarding staffing models, resource standardization, and recruitment and retention strategies for experienced nurses requires continued investigation.
Related Concept Videos
Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
Hospitals-II
Nurses that work in hospitals have...
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
Specialized Care Centers and Settings-I
Daycare centers
They provide several functions. Some facilities care for healthy newborns and children whose parents work, while others are medically focused and care for...
Hospitals-I