Is the Workload Indicators of Staffing Needs (WISN) method rigorous enough to tell us how many nurses we need in a general hospital?

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the practical use of the Workload Indicators of Staffing Needs (WISN) method in a general hospital in Iran. This method was used to determine the staffing needs of nurses in various hospital units, and the study examined the gap between the theoretical calculations and the actual use of the data in the hospital. Data was collected through a mixed-method approach including observations, interviews, and document analysis. The results showed that the WISN method indicated a surplus of nursing staff and no work pressure on nurses. However, the method did not account for the complexity of nurses managing multiple tasks simultaneously, and the low bed occupancy and low hospital revenue raised concerns about the excess of nurses obtained by the WISN method. The study suggests that decision-making on staff arrangements should not be solely based on WISN's numbers, and modalities of nursing care should also be considered. While the WISN method is important in determining nurse workload, it must be used with other factors to ensure the standard of patient care is not compromised. This study contributes to the understanding of the practical use of the WISN method in the context of Iran's healthcare system.