Clinical Decision Support System for Clinical Nurses’ Decision Making on Nurse-to-Patient Assignment: A Scoping Review

The nurse-to-patient assignment (NPA) process is essential for delivering patient-centered care, yet it remains largely dependent on manual decisions by charge nurses due to its complexity. This scoping review, guided by the Arksey and O’Malley framework, examined Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs) and optimization models applied to NPA. From 6,918 records, 16 studies were included. Identified optimization techniques included heuristic algorithms, mixed-integer programming, simulation models, Benders decomposition, and clustering methods. Key CDSS considerations involved patient acuity, continuity of care, workload equity, and spatial proximity. CDSS implementation showed positive outcomes, including improved workload distribution, enhanced nursing efficiency, and fairer assignments, contributing to greater nurse satisfaction and reduced overtime.