Chamberlain College of Nursing NR 533 Financial Management in Healthcare Organizations

Week 4: Staffing Budgets/FTEs/ Variance Analysis

Assignment Guidelines with Scoring Rubric

PURPOSE

This assignment provides learners with the opportunity to apply budgeting knowledge and skills by

calculating full-time equivalents for a nursing unit, projecting FTE needs related to census changes, and

analyzing a variance scenario.

DUE DATE: Sunday 11:59 p.m. MT at the end of Week 4

TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 150

REQUIREMENTS

Description of the Assignment

This assignment is in two scenario-based sections each related to staffing budgets. In the first, the

student will perform multistep calculations of FTEs and projection of future FTE needs for a

selected nursing unit. The second section involves calculation of budget variance and its analysis.

Each section requires supported written interpretation of findings.

Criteria for Content

Answer the questions and complete the calculations required for the two sections of the

assignment.

 Key points related to Calculations:

1. When performing calculations, standard rounding rules apply. If the number to the

right of the decimal is less than 5, round down to the nearest whole number, e.g., 33.4

= 33 If the number to the right of the decimal is 5 or greater, round up to the nearest

whole number, e.g. 33.5 =34.

2. Read the question carefully. Pay close attention to the units be asked and keep

them consistent. For example, hours vs FTEs; days vs months vs years.

3. Provide ALL formulas with references. Designate which formula associates with

which source. It is not sufficient to simply list the source at the beginning of the

section. Write out the formula used BEFORE filling in the numbers.

NR 533 Staffing_FTE_VarAnalysis AGR STUDENT VERSION 2 03_20_19nhs 1

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Chamberlain College of Nursing NR 533 Financial Management in Healthcare Organizations

Example: Efficiency Variance + Volume Variance + Cost Variance = Total Variance

Rundio, A. (2016). The nurse manager’s guide to budgeting and finance. 2nd. Ed.,

Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International.

 Section One: Staffing Budget and FTEs

o Calculations of full-time equivalents (FTEs)

o Project FTE needs related to census changes

 Section Two: Variance Analysis

o Calculating variance

o Variance analysis with explanation

Download the Assignment Word Document and submit your answers directly onto the form. When

completed, upload into the assignment portal in your course. For the questions requiring a written response,

please adhere to proper grammar and syntax, and provide references. For the questions requiring

calculations, show all your work including the formula used. Include the references for formula chosen.

PREPARING THE ASSIGNMENT

Section One—Staffing Budget and FTEs

Personnel Budget Case Study

Sandra Chambers has recently accepted the position of assistant administrator for the department

of nursing at Potter Regional Medical Center where she will oversee the operations of five medical

units. As she evaluates the budgets for the different cost centers, she finds that all are being used

at near or full capacity. The activity in four of the five has remained steady over the past 2 years. A

fifth unit has realized a steady increase in patient volume during that time and is currently at 88%

capacity. It has been projected that within the next 12 months the volume of patients moving

through that unit will increase by 20%. Sandra needs to determine if the current FTEs for the unit

will be sufficient to ensure quality and safe care continues to be provided, and if not, what is the

number of FTEs that will be needed to cover a 20% increase in volume.

1. Suggest all the information Sandra needs to collect in order to project the FTEs needed for the

next fiscal year accounting for the projected increased capacity. Remember, she is new to her

position so be sure to include background data on the unit itself as it relates to previous

budgets, nursing staff, and the organization. In other words, summarize your approach to this

Case Study.

2. Sandra has collected the following census information on all five units for the last month, in

addition to what was asked in question number one. Calculate the ADC and Occupancy Rate

for each unit using the Daily Census/Occupancy Rate table to determine which unit is currently

at 88% occupancy rate and projected to increase over the next year.

NR 533 Staffing_FTE_VarAnalysis AGR STUDENT VERSION 2 03_20_19nhs 2

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