Study Examines Implications for Other States of California Nurse Staffing Law
April 29, 2010
California's hospital nurse staffing ratio laws are associated with lower mortality and better patient outcomes, according to a study released by the Health Research and Educational Trust.
The study examined surveys completed in 2006 by nearly 80,000 nurses in California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. According to the results, California hospital nurses cared for one less patient on average than nurses in the other states, and two fewer patients on medical and surgical units, according to the study.
Nurses whose workloads were in line with the California ratios reported less burnout and job dissatisfaction, and they also reported better quality of care, according to the report.
Read the HRET's study on California's nurse staffing ratio laws (pdf).
© Copyright ASC COMMUNICATIONS 2011. Interested in LINKING to or REPRINTING this content? View our policies by clicking here.
To receive the latest hospital and health system business and legal news and analysis from Becker's Hospital Review, sign-up for the free Becker's Hospital Review E-weekly by clicking here.