A nurse manager must consider a number of external variables when preparing the personnel budget and projecting the unit's staffing needs. An external variable to be considered is:
a. Organizational staffing policies.
b. Staffing models.
c. Changes in services that will be offered.
d. Department of Health licensing standards.
ANS: D
Licensing regulations of the state can determine nurse staffing models. Staffing regulations can dictate the number of professional nurses required on a unit at any given time.