The overall objective of this proposal is to describe selected patient and structural characteristics that influence the cost of nursing care in community hospitals.
Specific aims are: (1) to determine how total nursing cost of a hospital stay is predicted by patient characteristics (DRG, nursing diagnoses, severity of illness, age, and method of payment) nursing staff and physician characteristics; (2) to determine how patient outcomes (dependency, adjusted LOS, adverse incidents, satisfaction with nursing care and self care knowledge) are predicted by patient, nursing staff and physician characteristics; and (3) to determine if patient outcomes are predicted by cost of nursing care. A method for determining nursing costs was developed by Higgerson and Van Slyck in the early 1970's (Higgerson & Van Slyck, 1982). Using a patient classification system that produces patient care units (PCU) based on the nursing process, direct costs of providing nursing care are determined. Indirect costs are allocated from other hospital cost centers to arrive at a total nursing cost. The method has been modified to reflect current nursing practice and costs and adopted for use in twelve Midwestern hospitals, four of which have agreed to participate in this study. A sample size of 200 subjects in each of 10 high volume DRGs is projected. The analytic approach to the data will be a multiple regression framework in which the dependent variable will be either a measure of nursing cost or patient outcome.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NR002376-04
Application #
2256887
Study Section
Nursing Research Study Section (NURS)
Project Start
1990-10-01
Project End
1995-05-31
Budget Start
1992-06-01
Budget End
1995-05-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
045911138
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Jacox, A K; Bausell, B R; Mahrenholz, D M (1997) Patient satisfaction with nursing care in hospitals. Outcomes Manag Nurs Pract 1:20-8