Community hospital characteristics associated with RN and LPN vacancy rates

Vacancy rates for RNs and for LPNs reported in a universe survey of U.S. community hospitals were examined for relationships to a number of characteristics of the institutional makeup, environment and setting, staff organization and composition of these hospitals. RN vacancy rates were found to have a statistically significant positive relationship to the number of beds in the hospitals, the number of hospital beds in the states in which the hospitals were located, and government control. Significant negative relationships were found with the number of RN graduates from nursing programs in the state, occupancy rate, and the ratio of RNs to total inpatient days. LPN vacancy rates showed a significant positive relationship to government control, southern locations, restriction of admissions to children and the ratio of RNs to LPNs. LPN vacancy rates showed a significant negative relationship to the number of hospital beds, occupancy rate, the ratio of LPNs to total inpatient days and the ratio of other nursing service personnel to LPNs.