Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Predicting Nurse Staffing Requirements From Routinely Collected Data

This study wants to figure out if it's possible to accurately predict the number of nurses needed on hospital wards by looking at information already collected about patients. Currently, hospitals use a tool called the Safer Nursing Care Tool, but it takes a lot of time and effort to gather the data specifically for staffing. This research hopes to create a more efficient way to plan nurse staffing using the data hospitals already have. They will also talk to nurses and managers to understand what works and what doesn't with current staffing methods. The goal is to improve patient safety by ensuring there are always enough nurses on duty.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

University of Southampton

Enrolment target

Start

01 Nov 2025

Estimated completion

31 Jul 2026

Nursing Workload

What is this study about?

This study is looking into a really important question: can we accurately predict how many nurses a hospital ward needs just by looking at the information they already collect about patients? Having enough nurses is super important for keeping patients safe and making sure they get the best care. However, planning for the right number of nurses can be tricky because the number and needs of patients change all the time.

At the moment, most NHS hospitals in England use a specific tool to help them decide on staffing levels. But, this tool often requires staff to gather new information just for staffing, which can take a lot of time away from patient care. This research aims to develop a clever computer method that uses data already gathered for other hospital tasks, like patient admissions and treatments, to figure out how many nurses are needed. This could make the process much more efficient and help hospitals make better, faster decisions about staffing.

The researchers will also be talking to nurses and managers who work on the wards. They want to understand what they think about the current ways of planning staff and what support they need. This feedback will be used to help design the new computer methods, making sure they are practical and helpful for the people who will actually use them.

Key takeaways

Aims to predict nurse staffing needs using existing hospital data.
Goal is to make staffing decisions more efficient and accurate.
Doesn't involve patients directly, but focuses on improving hospital processes.
Will collect feedback from nurses and managers about staffing tools.
Could lead to better nurse planning and improved patient safety.
Focuses on adult general hospital care, not mental health.

Who may be eligible?

This study is not directly about patient participation in the usual sense. Instead, it involves healthcare professionals who work in hospitals.

The researchers are looking for two main groups of people to share their insights. The first group includes nurses who are in charge of making sure there are enough staff, or nurses who deal with hospital IT and electronic patient records.

The second group they want to talk to includes nursing managers who focus on staffing or IT, clinical nurses who have used the current staffing tools, IT managers from NHS hospitals who know about their patient data systems, or people from companies that provide hospital rostering or patient information systems.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a nurse responsible for safe staffing or IT?
Are you a nursing manager involved in staffing or IT?
Do you have experience using the Safer Nursing Care Tool?
Are you an NHS IT manager familiar with hospital data systems?
Do you represent a company providing hospital rostering or patient information systems?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This is an observational study, which means it doesn't involve patients directly taking medication or having treatments. Instead, the researchers will be analysing existing patient data from hospital IT systems. They will also be working with healthcare professionals.

If you are a nurse or manager involved in staffing or IT, your participation would involve sharing your experiences and views through surveys or workshops. These workshops would explore how staffing tools are currently used, what challenges exist, and what kind of support is needed for making staffing decisions. The total duration of involvement for these professionals would depend on whether they participate in a survey, a workshop, or both, but it would not be continuous.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this study doesn't involve patients receiving new treatments or interventions, the risks of harm are very low. The potential benefits are significant for the NHS and patients, as better nurse staffing predictions could lead to improved patient safety and more efficient use of resources. For the healthcare professionals participating, the benefit is an opportunity to directly influence the development of better staffing tools. Participation in surveys or workshops is voluntary, and participants always have the right to withdraw at any time without needing to give a reason.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

University of Southampton
Verified postcode
Southampton, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is this study trying to achieve?

This study aims to find a smarter way to predict how many nurses are needed on hospital wards using existing patient information.

Will patients be directly involved in this study?

No, patients won't be directly involved. The study uses existing hospital data and gathers feedback from nurses and managers.

How will this study help patients?

By improving how hospitals predict nurse staffing, this study could help ensure there are always enough nurses, leading to better patient safety and care.

What kind of data will they be looking at?

Researchers will analyse information already collected by hospital IT systems about patients, but it won't be new information collected just for this study.

Are the researchers asking nurses for their opinions?

Yes, they will be asking nurses and managers about their experiences with staffing and what support they need for making staffing decisions.