Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) Practice Test

What does the term 'Average Daily Census' (ADC) refer to in healthcare?

1. Patients that were discharged in a day

2. Average number of patients seen per day

3. Patients in a bed at midnight on an average day

4. Sum of all patients treated in a month

The correct answer is: Patients in a bed at midnight on an average day

The term 'Average Daily Census' (ADC) is a significant metric in healthcare that reflects the average number of inpatients occupying hospital beds over a specific period. This measure is essential for evaluating hospital utilization and managing resources effectively. By focusing on patients in a bed at midnight on an average day, ADC provides a consistent snapshot of occupancy levels, allowing healthcare administrators to analyze trends over time, ensure adequate staffing levels, and plan for resource allocation. The emphasis on the midnight count is crucial because it establishes a stable reference point that accounts for daily patient admissions and discharges, offering a clear picture of the hospital's capacity over time. This metric assists in identifying periods of high demand, guiding decision-making in operations and staffing. In contrast, the other options either refer to specific patient transactions (such as discharges or visits) or aggregate counts that do not reflect the ongoing bed occupancy which ADC specifically captures.