Situation Assessment and Analysis

A. Describe actual situation in terms of who, what, when, where, why, and how.

There is a critical nursing shortage in our local hospital, particularly in the Intensive Care Unit. This is predicted to grow worse with the expansion of the ICU from a 15-bed to a 25- bed unit.

B. Identify facilitating and interfering barriers or factors in the change situation, numerically rate their potential strength and then indicate strategies appropriate for managing the influences of the factors.

4. Staff desire for additional hiring

2. Survey nurse perception of patient needs

3. Survey nurse desires; provide incentives for full time work

1. Staff lack of time for more helping during shortage

2. Staff lack of interest in helping during shortages

3. Staff lack of interest in working full time

4. Lack of resources for additional hire

1. Survey staff time/management problems

2. Survey nurse interest and reasons

3. Survey nurse interests; increase interest with incentives

4. Assessment of problems, solutions, & resources from ICU Nurse Manager, Assistant Head Nurse, and Charge Nurses; proposal for hiring plans