I need a middle range theory, regarding scheduling safe staffing and right mix to provide optimum care for surgery patients while trying to control overtime in the interest of safe staffing and staff satisfaction, not necessarily cost containment.
Two theories come to mind, and both deal with the concept of 'Caring': Watson is one, and Boykin is the other.
Also, W. Edwards Deming has worked with quality improvement, and focusing on the 'process' rather than the 'product', and has put forth 14 Points for Management (Deming, 2000) which may apply to your question.