Which term refers to acquiring and managing an adequate staff and staff mix in a care setting?

• A. Staffing
• B. Directing
• C. Controlling
• D. Priority

Answer: (A)

Staffing is the process of determining the right number and mix of personnel, recruiting and placing them, and ensuring ongoing availability and competency to meet patient care needs. In a care setting, this means assessing patient acuity and workload, ensuring shifts are covered, and maintaining the appropriate skills mix (for example, the right balance of RNs, LPNs, and trained aides) through onboarding, scheduling, and ongoing development. This function directly addresses getting the necessary people in place and keeping them capable to provide safe, effective care.

Directing is about guiding and supervising daily activities, and controlling focuses on monitoring performance and making corrective actions. Priority isn’t a specific management function. So the term that best fits acquiring and managing an adequate staff and staff mix is staffing.