Nursing Review in Wards Completed

06/11/2009 | Nursing Review in Wards Completed

As part of MidCentral Health (MCH) service reviews, a nurse staffing review has been completed for the Children’s ward, Neonates, and Wards 23, 24, 25, 26, 28 CCU/HDU, 29 and ICU. Other areas were excluded because either they had just opened (MAPU & Women’s surgical) or they were included in other service reviews (ATR).

The aim was to establish required staffing levels to meet planned service and patient care levels across the day, and week.

The bed numbers planned for acute and elective patients and the hours of care needed for the mix of patients on ‘home’ wards were used for staffing levels.

The DHBs and New Zealand Nurses Oorganisation Committee of Inquiry into Safe Staffings framework was used to guide the process.  The outcomes were compared with last year’s staffing, and staffing of other hospitals, and previous MCH staffing reviews.

The outcome has been to confirm the planned nurse roster levels in most areas, and to confirm the role health service assistants have in supporting the ward environment. 
Charge Nurses have determined the mix of nurses and health service assistants for patient care.  There will be consultation on these shift patterns with each area.

The health service assistant role has been split in two - patient care (care assistant), and care of the ward environment (hospital aide).  An infection prevention cleaning team will be formed to support the hospital aides.  
The overall impact is a reduction of about about 12 FTEs and about $700,000.

Constant observation resources will be centralised and authorised by the Hospital Director on call.

Other improvements to smooth peaks in work and to reduce interruptions, such as releasing time to care, changing to pager call bells, and the meal delivery project by Spotless, will be accelerated.

Nurses, Charge Nurses, Nurse Managers and Nurse Educators along with NZNO delegates and NZNO organiser have been part of a steering group overseeing the review.
All MECA requirements will be met.

The DHB is facing significant issues in living within its budgeted funds.  MidCentral Health is contributing significantly to the DHB’s deficit and we will need to reduce our expenditure by about $7 million.  A number of service improvement initiatives are currently underway, and these and other “business as usual” service improvement initiatives like this nursing review will continue.

The roster consultation process will be completed by 25 November.  This will involve affected nurses and care assistants, supported by the involvement of the NZNO in each ward consultation process.