Evidence on Nurse Staffing Ratios and Patient Outcomes in a Low ‐Income Country: Implications for Future Research and Practice

AbstractBackgroundConclusive evidence on the effect of nurse staffing ratios on nurse ‐sensitive outcomes (NSOs) has not yet been achieved worldwide.AimsTo describe the relationship between nurse staffing and NSOs at a Magnet designated, university hospital a low ‐income country.MethodsA 48 ‐month prospective study assessed the relationship between nurse staffing and six patient outcomes or NSOs in medical–surgical units and critical care units (CCUs). Nurse staffing was measured by nursing hours per patient day (NHPPD) and skill mix, whereas NSOs were total falls and injury falls per 1,000 patient days, percent of surveyed patients with hospital‐acquired pressure injuries (HAPI), catheter‐associated urinary tract infections, ventilator‐associated pneumonia, and central line‐associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) per 1,000 central line days.ResultsThe odds for total falls, injury falls, HAPI, and CLABSI in the medical –surgical units were higher with lower NHPPD ratios, OR = 4.67,p = .000; OR = 4.33,p = .001; OR = 3.77,p = .004 and OR = 2.61,p = .006, respectively. For the CCUs, lower rates of NHPPD increased the odds for total falls, OR = 6.25,p = .0007, HAPIs OR = 3.91,p = .001 and CLABSI, OR = 4.78,p = .000. Skill mix was associated with total falls, OR = 2.40,p = .005 and HAPIs OR = 2.07,p = .03 in the medical–surgical units but had no effect in any NSOs in the CCUs.Linking Evidence to ActionHigher rates of nurse...

Source: Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing - October 9, 2018 Category: Nursing Authors: Iman Al Kouatly, Nada Nassar, Maya Nizam, Lina Kurdahi Badr Tags: Original Article Source Type: research