Statewide Hospital Nurse Staffing Survey Update - February 2006
Several of the DFWHC members, nurse executives and human resources executives were involved in the initial data collection in the fall of 2004. Because of some difficulties with the 2004 survey, a group of these executives have been involved, throughout 2005, in an effort to improve the survey.
The improvement included a focus on:
- Clarification of operational definitions
- Reduction in amount of questions asked
- Addition of questions about general demand for RNs
- Clearer management of advanced nurse practitioner questions
- Clearer management of PRN nurse questions
- Improvement in the plan for distribution of the survey planned for February 2006
- Addition of step to notify potential survey participants, of the type of data that will be required for the survey when it is distributed in February 2006
In an effort to minimize duplication of data collection effort for DFWHC members, the group also worked to align the State survey data collection process, variables and definitions with the annual DFWHC staffing survey. The DFWHC survey, entitled “DFWHC Healthcare Vacancy & Turnover Survey” has been in place for more than eight years and collects data on nursing as well as many other key ancillary staff.
Based on the work of these DFWHC members, and other executives throughout Texas, the survey is now in its final form and plans are in place to launch the survey in February 2006 via an online version. Additionally, in December, in an effort to prepare potential participants for the survey, CNOs throughout Texas were notified by the Texas Department of State Health Services of the survey and the types of data that will be collected.
All this was accomplished through the effort of some very dedicated DFWHC members. So be on the lookout for the survey in February 2006. For more information about the survey or any questions, feel free to contact Mari Tietze, PhD, RN, DFWHC Research Project Manager at mtietze@dfwhc.org or 972-719-4900.
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