Appropriate Staffing

A review of the literature revealed that there continues to be no clear staffing method based of patient acuity for inpatient psychiatric units. More research needs to be conducted once staffing models are developed, but there is a clear need for mental health units to have their own staffing models based on patient acuity (Hanrahan, 2012; McKee, Harrison & Smith, 2006). Research has been conducted on several aspect of how inappropriate staffing levels have an impact on the rate of violence on units, the effects of the level of licensure on staffing and patients, and the types of patient care that is missed when staffing levels are low. Research proves that higher staffing levels during high activity times was associated with few assaults and