Safe nurse staffing: how to report concerns, whatever your role

Our practical guide explains how and in what circumstances to use ‘red flags’ to raise nurse staffing gaps, whether you’re a ward manager or leader, or a staff nurse

Feeling safe to raise concerns in the knowledge that any issues will be listened to and acted on is essential to our well-being at work.

Whether about patient safety or staffing levels, we must have the courage to raise and escalate our concerns using the tools and support available, such as a red flag system.

‘Red flags’ introduced to help highlight staffing shortfall

In 2014, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published guidance on safe staffing levels on hospital wards. This followed the 2013