Current status of nursing manpower and nursing staff post capacity standards research

Objectives: To investigate nurses' workload and arrangement of nursing manpower in general ward in China; oprovide information for "China nursing development plan(2005-2010)". Methods: Using observation method, questionnaire survey. Results: 88% of the hospital was short of nurses. The actual working nurses rate is 84.53%.The average ratio rate between doctors and nurses are 1∶0.82. The ratio rate between bed and nurses in general wards is 1∶0.36, the lowest rate is 1∶0.26. Suggestions: Administrate department should formulate the lowest nursing management staff post capacity standards. Hospital should use accurate method to calculate the nursing post capacity.