Nursing

nursing

4 West Oncology Unit Budget Proposal

Submitted by

Charie Anne Tecson

Excelsior College

Nur 625

Management of Fiscal and Operation System

February 26, 2012

Abstract

Creating a budget proposal for a new unit is a daunting task. Staff mix and nursing care hours patient per day formula is an important tool for appropriate operational budgeting. This can prevent nurse burn-out and increase the chance of nursing retention.

Introduction

Oncology nursing is one of the most revered specializations in nursing. It is mentally and emotionally exhausting for the nurses regardless of patient outcome. The men and women who work in oncology were thought to be a special breed of nurses to work in oncology. Though they perceive their job as important, their job satisfaction is relatively low (Nelson, 2011). They have relatively high nursing hours of care per patient day (NCHPPD) and with patients who have who likelihood of mortality within 30 days of admission (Aiken, Clarke, Sloane, Sochalski, and Siber 2002). Compounded by inadequate staffing, oncology nurses retention rate is staggeringly low (Aiken, Clarke, Sloane, Sochalski, and Siber 2002). Inadequate staffing increases the likelihood of errors and near misses (Nelson, 2011). Increased nurse-patient ratio and high acuity level of patient are the oncology nursing staffs’ main complaint. These are the expected predicament that the staff and management of 4 West will face after its conversion to an oncology unit. It will require adequate staffing and educate to convert the dedicated nursing staff of 4West and appropriate budget is necessary for its success.

Rational for staffing

The proposed budget for the newly converted oncology unit, 4West is enormous, though not surprising. The patient acuity level increased and the nursing staff that needs to cares for the patients needs to be adjusted to prevent overwhelming the staff....