A new study from the University of Pennsylvania and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia finds that nurses with higher patient loads and those in poor work environments are more likely to miss required care.
The research was based on survey data collected from 2,187 pediatric registered nurses in 223 hospitals between 2006 and 2008. Over half the nurses admitted to missing at least one care assignment per shift. In poor work environments, 61 percent of nurses missed care, while 46 percent of those in better environments missed care activities.
For every additional patient a nurse had, they were 70 percent more likely to miss care assignments. Researchers highlighted the need to create supportive work environments for nurses and help reduce patient loads not only for the sake of hospital efficiency, but also for patient care.
More Articles on Human Capital and Risk:
Michigan unions protest non-local labor at UP Health System construction site
CHI St. Alexius nurses consider unionizing
NY workers strike at Fresenius-owned dialysis clinics