Critical Care Nurse (CCN)
Volume:
45
Issue:
2
April 2025
Page: 88
Staffing challenges, such as shortages, are among the leading problems in nursing today. Appropriate staffing is crucial for quality patient care and for maintaining healthy work environments for nurses.
What are the tools for measuring nursing workload and patient acuity?
There are various tools available for measuring nursing workload. In the webinar, we highlighted 2 tools that are integrated into the electronic health record (EHR). The first tool was described in a staffing story shared by Maurice Kibisu, an intensive care unit (ICU) charge nurse. This tool was purchased from a technology company and was adapted and tested by ICU staff. The second tool was developed by Kelsey Jones, a nurse. Jones and her colleagues collaborated with the hospital system’s leaders and information technology (IT) team to create a tool that calculates a nursing workload score from EHR documentation. Tools not integrated into the EHR include the CAMEO, a tool designed to measure the acuity and nursing workload of pediatric cardiology patients.
What are your thoughts on virtual ICU in terms of addressing staffing shortages?
Innovative uses of virtual care are exciting! A virtual nurse is not a replacement for hands-on care but can augment and support care delivery. Nursing tasks such as admission processes and discharge teaching do not require in-person interaction and can be conducted virtually, allowing direct care nurses to dedicate more time to other aspects of care. Any use of technology should be evaluated and refined based on its impact on patient outcomes and nurse workload.
Article Source Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.4037/ccn2025892
Full-text web article access is available for members at ccn.aacnjournals.org