grinbyrd2

How do you determine how many staff needed per shift? Is it based on an acuity score or hours per patient day (HPPD)? If you use HPPD, what is it? Thanks

Can you tell me what your hours per patient day (HPPD) if you do use this to justify you staffing needs? Thanks

We use a double lumen UAC and give fluids/TPN/meds via 1 port and use the other port for continuous blood pressure monitoring and lab collections. We also give blood through the UAC via the monitoring port in the VLBW infants. We don't start a PIV if they have a UAC in place unless they are a bigger baby needing a transfusion or have a med that is incompatible with the maintenance fluids or TPN. Once the patient is stable a PICC line is placed and the UAC is D/C'd. We have been very successful with this practice and it saves the patient a great deal of sticks.

We use PRN staff and overtime. We also pull from other departments (Mother/Baby and PICU/Peds) within the hospital. The pulled staff only work in our Progressive care area after they have been cross-oriented. We are the only NICU in our region and are also the only regional transport center within a 150 mile radius. We never transfer patients out or turn down transfers because of high census. They have no where else to go.

I am looking for information on how other NICU's calculate their staffing needs. Do you staff by acuity or Hours Per Patient Day (HPPD)? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks