The American Nurses Association (ANA) on Sept. 17 released an update to its "Principles for Nurse Staffing" (the Principles), a guide to help nurses and other decision-makers identify and develop processes and policies to improve nurse staffing for the best interest of patients and nurses. Drawing on decades of research and best practices, the updated Principles address the complexities of nursing practice in today's health care system and the demands placed on nurses who care for patients across all care settings.  

ANA believes that providing appropriate nursing resources must account for human factors including a nurse's years of experience, knowledge, education, skill set and patient mix, acuity, and intensity. This flexible approach to nurse staffing is associated with improved patient outcomes, including reduced mortality rates, shorter stays, lower readmission rates, and reduced incidents of hospital-acquired conditions. 

"Our approach to nurse staffing accounts for the many factors that impact how nurses attend to patients in their care," said ANA President Ernest J. Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN. "It is essential that nurses have a substantive and active role in staffing decisions." 

Download the new Principles for Nurse Staffing e-book here.