Table 1 Chief characteristics of the case study sites
Characteristic | Role model site | Beginner site |
|---|---|---|
Bed size | Over 350 | Approximately 400 |
In-patient units | 20 | 24 |
Type of hospital | Academic medical center | Community hospital (With multiple nursing school affiliations) |
Chief nursing officer authority | Full administrative authority, with financial resources control | Full administrative authority, with financial resources control |
Chief nursing officer type of position | A vice president of patient services in general, with responsibilities beyond nursing | A vice president of patient services in general, with responsibilities beyond nursing |
Magnet status | Magnet designated hospital | Magnet application hospital |
Other status | Non-Union | Non-Union |
Self-perceived EBP status upon selection | More than three-fourths progress* along the scale toward full EBP integration Also self-reported: 'an intense focus on EBP' | Not even one-fifth progress along the scale* toward full EBP integration: Also self-reported: 'implemented some EBP initiatives... basic, nothing high level' |
Case mix index, all payors | At the time of their site visit, both hospitals reported case mix indices in the low to medium intensity of resource use, with the role model site** reporting lower resource needs more similar to that of community hospitals, and the beginner site experiencing resource use suggesting moderate needs, higher than most community hospitals but lower than tertiary medical centers. | Â |
Nursing education mix | The role model site had a very high proportion of BSN nurses, virtually double that of the beginner site. | Â |
Hours per patient day (HPPD) | â–ª Critical care: Last quarter (Jan-Mar 07) 19.8 | â–ª Critical care: 14.62 |
| Â | â–ª Med-surg: 9.92 | â–ª Med-surg: 5.22 |