Estimating of the required midwife in the maternity ward in the hospital using Workload Indicator of Staffing Need Method

Abstract

Background and aims: Human resources are a significant component of the health sector. This study estimates the number of midwives required in maternity wards in hospitals by using the WISN method. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in three hospitals affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Iran using the WISN method in 2019. We determined the workload and standard time of working by holding expert meetings. The timing methods were used to test and verify the standard working time. Available working time was determined through sessions with personnel affairs experts, studying the relevant laws and regulations, and personnel system information. The actual workload was figured out based on the information management system and data registries. We employed Microsoft Excel to analyze WISN and Stata (version 19) for statistical data. Results: 10 factors were determined related to midwifes’ available working time. The annual available working time for midwives in the studied hospitals was 1378 hours. The researcher identified labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum, recovery after cesarean care, and newborn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), as the main activities of midwives. The results have shown that the Centre hospital and the educational hospital faced 2 and 13 midwives shortage, respectively, while the non-educational hospital had 2 surplus midwives. Conclusion: The results showed that although both center and educational hospitals faced a shortage of midwifery staff, in comparison to working pressure, the midwives in the academic hospital were under more pressure than the midwives in the central hospital. So, staffing in the educational hospital was a top priority. Workforce recruitment had a significant role in these hospitals.