Building a classification system that works.

The process one nursing department used to develop, test, implement, and monitor a definitive patient classification system that accurately predicts needed nursing staff and correlates with department budget is described. The author demonstrates that staff nurses with ordinary skills and experience, using limited resources of time and money, can build a valid, reliable, workable system amenable to computerization and future use in costing out nursing care on an individual patient or diagnosis related group (DRG) basis.