Date of Conferral
3-30-2026
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Corinne Romano
Abstract
Understaffing during the weekends has been related to issues in patient safety, delayed responses, and increased nurse fatigue and turnover in a majority of inpatient mental health units. This practice improvement Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aimed to address disparities in nurse staffing ratios between weekdays and weekends within inpatient mental health units. The purpose of the project was to design and test an evidence-based acuity-based staffing model, supported by structured staff education and compliance monitoring, to promote equitable workload distribution and improve patient and organizational outcomes. The guiding practice question asked: How does the implementation of an acuity-based staffing tool influence staffing equity, nurse satisfaction, and patient safety outcomes in a mental health unit? A targeted literature review of CINAHL, PubMed, and Cochrane databases yielded seven high-quality studies supporting acuity-based staffing as an evidence-informed strategy that enhances safety, equity, and nurse satisfaction. The project employed descriptive and comparative analyses of pre- and post-implementation data, including staffing ratios, patient acuity, restraint use, and staff satisfaction metrics. Implementation produced key deliverables: an integrated Electronic Health Record (EHR)–based acuity tool, educational resources, and a real-time staffing equity dashboard. Post-intervention outcomes demonstrated improved staffing parity between weekdays and weekends, a 20% reduction in restraint incidents, enhanced perceptions of fairness, and projected annual savings of approximately $56,000 from reduced turnover and overtime. This initiative aligns with Joint Commission and Magnet standards emphasizing competency-based and equitable staffing. Findings underscore the importance of data-driven staffing practices that strengthen nurse well-being, improve patient safety, and advance health equity through consistent, inclusive care delivery in behavioral health settings.
Recommended Citation
Emuobe, Vivian, "Implementing an Acuity-Based Staffing Model to Improve Staffing Equity and Patient Safety in an Inpatient Mental Health Unit" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 19695.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/19695
