Staffing, Scheduling, and Workforce Planning Flashcards
7 cards from real ANM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Staffing, Scheduling, and Workforce Planning flashcards as text
Which staffing model distributes nursing hours based on patient acuity and the complexity of care required?
Answer: Patient acuity-based staffing model
The patient acuity-based staffing model allocates nursing resources according to individual patient care complexity and needs, ensuring appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios.
An ANM notices that overtime hours have increased by 20% over the past quarter. What is the FIRST step in addressing this workforce issue?
Answer: Analyze data to identify root causes of the overtime trend
Before implementing solutions, the ANM must analyze data to identify root causes such as unexpected census increases, callouts, or inefficient scheduling patterns.
The nurse-to-patient ratio recommended for a general medical-surgical unit according to most evidence-based guidelines is:
Answer: 1:4 to 1:6
Most evidence-based guidelines and state regulations recommend a 1:4 to 1:6 nurse-to-patient ratio on general medical-surgical units to ensure safe, quality care.
Which of the following is a PRIMARY advantage of cyclical or rotating scheduling for nursing staff?
Answer: Provides predictability and consistency for staff planning
Cyclical scheduling repeats a set pattern, giving staff predictability about their upcoming schedules while allowing managers to consistently meet unit coverage requirements.
A float pool is BEST described as:
Answer: A group of cross-trained staff deployed to units based on census fluctuations
A float pool consists of cross-trained nurses who can be flexibly deployed across multiple units to cover staffing gaps caused by census changes or callouts.
When a unit is unexpectedly short-staffed mid-shift, the ANM's PRIORITY action is to:
Answer: Assess patient safety risk and obtain immediate coverage resources
Patient safety is the immediate priority; the ANM must assess current risk and quickly mobilize float pool, per diem, or overtime staff to maintain safe staffing ratios.
Full-time equivalent (FTE) is defined as:
Answer: The equivalent of one employee working 40 hours per week for 52 weeks
One FTE represents 2,080 hours of work annually (40 hours/week × 52 weeks), used as the standard unit for calculating staffing needs and budgeting labor costs.