The Journal of neuroscience nursing : journal of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses
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To enhance nursing staff retention and ensure a consistently high standard of care, a study was conducted to determine an appropriate nurse staffing model for a neurocritical care unit. In addition to being critically ill, these patients often require extensive diagnostic testing to determine treatment. Nurses traveling with patients leave higher nurse-patient ratios remaining on the unit. ⋯ Significant time was spent every day off the floor, in addition to the documentation and performance of frequent assessments. These results advocate for a staffing position without a dedicated patient assignment but to assist with traveling and high-acuity patients so that safe and attentive care can be consistently given.