Question

A nurse manager discovers that the actual number of visits per patient in a home health service is 3.8 visits per day when the standard is 5 visits per day. Based on this information, the nurse manager:

a. Concludes that the complexity of care in each visit has arisen.
b. Concludes that patient volume has been decreased.
c. Decides that more information is needed before a conclusion can be reached.
d. Initiates a training session regarding the importance of ensuring that visits are made.

Answer 1

More information is needed to determine why the actual number of home health visits is lower than the standard, as staffing issues, policy changes, or other factors could be influencing the numbers.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a nurse manager discovers that the actual number of visits per patient in a home health service is 3.8 visits per day, whereas the standard is 5 visits per day, more information would be needed to determine the cause of this discrepancy. Without additional data, it cannot be concluded whether the complexity of care has increased, patient volume has decreased, or if there is another factor influencing the number of visits.

For instance, staffing issues or policy changes could also affect these numbers. The nurse manager should investigate further by reviewing patient records, staffing levels, and any recent changes in service protocol. Initiation of a training session or jumping to conclusions about care or volume without further analysis would be premature.