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Medical Care Research and Review
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Measuring the Nursing Workforce: Clarifying the Definitions

Kyndaron Reinier

University of Vermont

Mary Val Palumbo

University of Vermont

Barbara McIntosh

University of Vermont

Betty Rambur

University of Vermont

Jane Kolodinsky

University of Vermont

Laurie Hurowitz

University of Vermont

Takamaru Ashikaga

University of Vermont

Numerous articles have addressed the causes and implications of the current nursing shortage. Little has been published, however, about how to measure the nursing workforce. This article presents (1) a review of definitions for common workforce indicators such as vacancy and turnoverrates and the relationship between these indicators and the need for nurses,(2) a review of the calculation of vacancy and turnoverrates in several statewide and national surveys, and (3) the results from the development and pilot test of a health care workforce survey for use in Vermont. The review indicates that in practice, no standard method is used despite attempts to standardize the calculation of vacancy and turnover rates. The Vermont pilot study results demonstrate that a richer profile of the health workforce can be obtained by using both standard workforce measures and more subjective questions to assess a statewide need for nurses.

Key Words: nursing shortage • nursing workforce • vacancy rate • turnover rate

Medical Care Research and Review, Vol. 62, No. 6, 741-755 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/1077558705281073
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