Effects of Nurse Staffing on Hospital-Acquired Conditions and Length of Stay in Community Hospitals

• DOI: 10.1097/qmh.0b013e3181dafe3f
• Publication Date: 2013-09-07T01:21:20Z
• Authors: Karen H. Frith; E. Faye Anderson; Barbara Caspers; Fan Tseng; Kathleen Sanford; Nancy G. Hoyt; Kim Moore
• Keywords: Staffing; Skill mix; Acute care

Background Error-free care is the goal of health professionals, consumers, and public policy makers. Because nurses can be last barrier between a patient an error, there need to examine this pressing nursing issue—nurse staffing. Purpose This research examined predictive relationships nurse staffing outcomes in hospitals. Method A quantitative, cross-sectional design was used data on nearly 35 000 patients from 11 medical-surgical units 4 Data were extracted administrative databases over 2-year period analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling. Discussion Findings study indicated that higher registered (RN) licensed practical hours per equivalent day percentages RNs skill mix predicted lower number adverse events shorter lengths stay, controlling for age complications. Conclusion study, with its improved methodology, supports previous findings should as evidence changes