Nurse manpower at St. Luke's Hospital.

Abstract

The rationale underlying this study was to compile a factual picture of the number of nurses currently working in St. Luke's Hospital and to establish the amount of hours nurses have available for their patients. A strategy was developed to collect, record and analyse data on: • The number of nurses per grade, ward and shift • The mean number of patients in each ward • The staff- patient ratio in existence • The amount of hours nurses have available for their patients. 14 wards were included in this study. Quantitative data was collected for this study by the researcher himself. The results suggested that there was a high percentage of vacant posts in the nursing staff complements and that there was maldistribution of staff. The absence of bed management and an outdated admission policy might have been the cause of having extra beds on the wards. This might jeopardise patients' safety and comfort besides seriously affecting the quality of nursing care being delivered. Having extra beds on the wards could add pressure on the nursing staff, leading to having frustrated and demotivated nurses. The staff - patient ratio was low thus the patients' needs may not be fulfilled. The fixed rosters being worked by nurses did not allow nurse administrators to adjust working rosters in relation to the varying workloads on the wards. The amount of hours nurses had available for patients has been calculated, but since this was calculated in relation to the number of patients only, without considering other factors such as patients' dependency, it has not been established whether these nursing hours are enough to meet patients' needs. Suggestions were made for improvements m the present situation and for further research to be carried out. EMMANUEL BEZZINA 1995