A direct-care nurse can help manage clinical variability by:

a. mixing different types of patients in the same unit.
b. assigning nurses patients with dissimilar diagnoses.
c. mixing different levels of care in the emergency department.
d. assigning nurses to patients with similar diagnoses

Correct answer: d. Organizing patient assignments or attempting to cluster like patients on a unit can help decrease clinical variability.

To learn more, read the continuing nursing education article: “What every nurse should know about staffing.”