Comparing size and combination nursing staff in Birjand with the compiled standards of the Ministry of Health; treatment and medical education of Iran (2006)

Hospital is an institute whose main strategy is providing diagnostic and treatment services for different medical situations, surgical or non- surgical. Staff is the most essential work force constituting health and treatment organizations and nurses, the largest professional group in a health care system, provide the largest part of direct care for patients, so they playa very important role in maintaining and improving the health of the society. Critical goals of hospitals will not be achieved unless the required numbers of qualified nurses are provided in proper time and place. The present study was conducted to survey the size and combination of nursing staff in affiliated treatment centers to Birjand Medical University and comparing with the complied standards of the ministry. We hope that the present study be able to take a step towards planning and reaching those standards and eventually improving quality of care. In this descriptive- comparative study the size and combination of nursing staff in affiliated treatment centers to Birjand Medical University in 2006 were investigated. Data was collected by the cheek list staffmg estimation table based on the systemic approach of the ministry. Then, the present personnel situation was compared with that of the standard one. The results shortage rate (or ratio) of nursing staff to available active beds, which themselves are less than the standard number per population, is in Imam Reza (AS) hospital 49.67%, in Vali-Asr (AS) hospital 29.6% and in Qaen hospital 47.3%. In Nehbandan, Sarbisheh and Sarayan, there are treatment centers, which are working as day- and- night (24 hours) clinics and have a number of beds in the emergency room and in the clinic. Regarding to the active beds nursing shortage in Nehbandan, Sarbisheh and Sarayan, was 55.8%, 57% and 70.6% respectively. Also, the results show that the maximum shortage of staff is in professional nurses. Since the most important factor in improving quality of care is providing sufficient number of staff, so standardizing size and combination of nursing staff can take an effective step towards the satisfaction of patients, clients and nursing personnel.