Janice is the manager of a medical/surgical unit in a not-for-profit, acute care hospital that is part of a nine-hospital hea

Janice is the manager of a medical/surgical unit in a not-for-profit, acute care hospital that is part of a nine-hospital healthcare system. During the budget preparation process for the upcoming fiscal year, the healthcare system leadership mandated 5% cost reductions from the previous fiscal year budget. Labor costs must be evaluated thoroughly for potential cost savings. Janice feels strongly that eliminating nursing positions is not appropriate in this budget reduction initiative.

Questions: How can Janice justify that her current nurse staffing is appropriate to ensure cost-effective, high-quality care for her patients?  How can Janice meet the budget reduction mandate without cutting nursing staff?