Times are Tough, but Numbers Don't Lie: Using NDNQI Data to Support the Acquisition of Fiscal and Human Resources

Purpose:
This presentation will demonstrate how nurse executives can pair NDNQI nurse satisfaction and patient outcomes data with internal staffing/acuity data, and use outcomes to drive organizational decision making around fiscal and human resources.

Significance:
Hospitals must demonstrate quality patient outcomes at a time when fiscal constraints necessitate tough decisions around staffing resources. Pairing internal staffing/acuity data with national benchmarks using NDNQI outcomes data helps nurse executives justify maintaining or increasing nursing staff

Strategy and Implementation:
Martha Jefferson is a 176-bed, Magnet designated hospital in Charlottesville, VA, with a replacement hospital campus opening in 2012. In spite of the current economic climate, our hospital has remained financially solid during this multi-million dollar building campaign, through fiscally prudent decision making and resource allocation. At the same time, the organization is experiencing growth in patient volumes, & the addition of new service lines (bariatric and neurosurgery). To support quality patient outcomes & retain nursing talent within the organization, our Nurse Executives have successfully used NDNQI data and staffing/acuity software to defend or increase nursing FTEs within the organization. A formalized methodology for including NDNQI benchmarking data with all FTE request proposals was implemented in 2008. Steps toward a systematic analysis of the data, and a formal methodology for using the data to support the addition or replacement of RN positions will be described.

Evaluation:
Within the 2009 fiscal year, Nurse Executives have successfully obtainined additional RN FTEs (outside the confines of the current budget)resulting in sustained levels of excellence, and/or demonstrable improvements to NDNQI patient outcomes and/or nurse satisfaction scores.

Implications for Practice:
This presentation will demonstrate how NDNQI nurse-sensitive data and nurse satisfaction can be used to influence decision making at the board level, executive level, mid-management level, and staff nurse level, and can support improvement in pateint and staff satisfaction.