Nurse Workforce Minimum Data Set 

Background

In 2001 the Department determined that existing data sources did not provide adequate comprehensive, timely or accurate information on the nurse workforce in public hospitals and other sectors. The main sources of information about the nurse workforce were the annual nurse labour force survey conducted on behalf of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare by the Nurse Board of Victoria, and payroll data from public hospitals. Work to improve the labour force survey has been undertaken at national level and these changes were reflected in the 2002-03 survey.

The Department has also undertaken other work to improve the quality and utility of data from payroll sources.

Vision

Early in 2002 work began on developing a Nurse Workforce Minimum Data Set. This database which collects information relating tobaseline hours, actual hours, vacancies and turnover.

Process and work so far

A panel of senior hospital nurses representing a broad range of organisations was appointed by the Director, Nurse Policy Branch, and this met a number of times during 2002. Many hospitals assisted the development of the dataset by participating in evaluative pilots. Details were finalised in late 2002 and circulated to all public hospitals in late November 2002.

By March 2003 data from almost all hospitals was being reported regularly to the Branch, and work had begun on expanding implementation to other sectors. It should be noted that most of public residential aged care services are already providing data because they are auspiced by public hospitals.

In late 2002 work began on developing the database as a mainstream Departmental system to be known as the Victorian Nursing Data Collection.This development is scheduled for implementation in late November 2003 and will offer a worldwide web interface for hospitals.

Contact

All enquiries can be directed to Andrew Oates, Project Officer