Nurses on a unit met with the nurse manager as part of participatory budgeting
They ask, "What exactly is the difference between fixed and variable costs? Understanding this will help us better understand the budgeting process." The manager provides a definition and asks the staff to list types of direct and indirect cost. Which example would indicate a need for further teaching?
a. Fixed costs would include accreditation fees.
b. Fixed cost would include the cost for the automated medication-dispensing system.
c. Variable cost would include the nurse manager's salary.
d. Variable cost would include the salary expense for registered nurses.
ANS: D
Correct:
Variable costs would include the salary expense for registered nurses because their number can change.
Incorrect:
a. The salary line for RNs would increase with high census and decrease with low census.
b. Fixed costs are costs that do not change as the unit-of-service volume changes. For example, administrative salaries do not change regardless of the patient census on the nursing units such as accreditation fees and the automated medication dispensing system.
c. Variable costs would not include the nurse manager's salary since it does not change with patient census.
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