Planning for the size of the nursing staff at an outpatient chemotherapy unit

Abstract

Background: Use of a patient classification system particular to the unit, including size of nursing staff, is required for nurses to have adequate staffing and provide high-quality nursing care in oncology units. Objectives: The study was conducted to create a planning system for nursing staff size for an outpatient chemotherapy unit at a university hospital. Methods: The study was conducted with the nurses working in an outpatient chemotherapy unit of a university hospital and patients who received five weeks of treatment. Patients were classified by using the Magnuson Model. Data related to job analysis were collected by two independent observers who made measurements with a stopwatch, in line with safety and quality standards on the chemotherapy units. Findings: A total of 1,795 patients who received care at the outpatient chemotherapy unit were classified using the model. Based on the job analysis, on average, 17.12 nurses per day were needed to care for the patients.