Nurses' Perceived Adequacy of Staffing and Scheduling Systems.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the influence of a newly implemented acuity and scheduling system on nurses' perception of staffing adequacy and scheduling satisfaction.

BACKGROUND

Research shows an association between nurse staffing and scheduling and job satisfaction, but there is limited research on how staffing and scheduling affect this relationship.

METHODS

A convenience sample of nurses completed surveys measuring satisfaction with staffing and scheduling before and after implementation of a new scheduling and acuity system in the hospital setting. Comparison of pre-post survey responses was analyzed with Mann-Whitney U tests.

RESULTS

Participants (n = 1100) were primarily females (78%), registered nurses in their late 30s, with a college degree, working in the inpatient unit. There were statistically significant improvements in staff satisfaction with scheduling and staffing processes with the new system ( P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Implementing an empowered scheduling system significantly enhances engagement, improves satisfaction, and can strengthen organizational capacity to sustain a stable and resilient workforce.