A new staffing tool could help to make a stronger case for an increase in nursing jobs across the UK.
The Safer Care Nursing Tool, backed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), assesses patients' sickness and dependency rating and recommends appropriate staffing levels accordingly. It is designed to ensure that patients get the best level of care and treatment no matter what illness they have.
Created over a decade ago by Professor Hilary Chapman, chief nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust, and Professor Katherine Fenton, chief nurse at University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust, it was given the seal of approval by NICE this week. It has been developed by using data from over 1,000 top performing wards and thousands of episodes of patient care.
It takes into account a number of factors including monitoring nurse sensitive indicators. This involves assessing infection rates, complaints, pressure ulcers and falls and it can then make an informed decision as to whether or not more staffing is required on the particular ward.
Speaking to Nursing Times, Professor Fenton spoke of her delight at the tool gaining an endorsement from NICE and added: "To me, as a chief nurse, [it means] I have got an evidence-based methodology that tells me what staffing I need on each ward based on the acuity and dependency of patients."
Nursing has been one of the main concerns with the staff shortage that has engulfed the NHS in recent years. Many foundation trusts have seen a lack of trained professionals and that has meant that some have turned to recruiting from overseas.
In July, the head of the Royal College of Nursing, Dr Peter Carter, told ITV that he wants more UK-based nurses to be recruited. He stressed that while his view was not an "anti-immigration thing", hospitals should class training British nurses as a better option than looking abroad.
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Written by Mathew Horton
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