Final answer:
The three main factors for deciding nursing unit staffing are patient acuity, nurse competence, and staffing ratios, ensuring proper patient care, skill application, and nurse availability respectively, while considering economic impacts like labor costs and budget constraints.
Step-by-step explanation:
The appropriate factors to consider for deciding on staffing in nursing units are patient acuity, nurse competence, and staffing ratios. These elements ensure that patients receive the necessary care tailored to their specific health needs, that nurses have the proper skill set to administer that care, and that there is an appropriate number of nurses available relative to the number of patients.
In the context of healthcare economics, understanding the labor market for nurses is crucial. As the price for nurses' labor rises—comprising salary and extensive benefits—hospitals and nursing homes may lower the quantity of nurses they hire due to budget constraints. Alternative measures to manage higher labor costs might include investing in technology or utilizing lower-paid healthcare aides, affecting both nurse demand and patient care quality.