Productivity and the nursing workforce

This policy briefing describes key issues regarding nursing workforce productivity including: the context and questions pertinent to successful implementation of Releasing Time to Care; the Productive Ward; a summary of some of the technical and policy issues around nursing workforce productivity and a synopsis of what is known about productivity measures and productivity improvement.

Productivity in health care is both complex and political. It is important that senior nurses understand the range of issues involved because they are becoming part of the public sector narrative. Therefore they must position themselves to become fully engaged in local discussions and decisions about productivity and its measurement because of the subsequent impact on patient care and working lives of nurses.

The productive ward program offers an opportunity to revisit ways of working with a view to improving patient care and releasing staff time for further reinvestment in direct patient care. 

For further information, please email papa.ukintl.dept@rcn.org.uk