Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) Practice Test

How is the calculation of Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) done without staffing ratios?

1. (ADC x 365) x HPPD / 2080

2. (ADC + HPPD) / 2080

3. (ADC x HPPD) + 365

4. (HPPD x 2080) / ADC

The correct answer is: (ADC x 365) x HPPD / 2080

The calculation of Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) is an important metric in healthcare management that indicates the number of full-time staff needed to support patient care based on a facility's Average Daily Census (ADC) and Hours per Patient Day (HPPD). The correct calculation uses the formula where the ADC is multiplied by the number of days in a year (365) to find the total patient days. This total is then divided by the average hours of care provided per patient day (HPPD), resulting in the total number of nursing hours required for the year. The denominator, typically 2080, reflects the total hours a full-time employee works in a year, calculated as 40 hours per week multiplied by 52 weeks. Thus, the resulting figure shows how many FTEs are necessary to meet the demand based on the calculated nursing hours. This method provides a comprehensive view of staffing needs without relying on ratios, allowing for direct application to staffing decisions and financial planning. The alternative calculations provided are either misaligned with the definitions of ADC and HPPD or introduce incorrect arithmetic operations that do not yield the correct representation of required staffing levels. For instance, merely adding ADC to HPPD or not correctly considering the year