Patient mortality has been linked to hospital shifts with low nurse staffing levels and high patient turnover, according to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers at University of California-Los Angeles estimated the risk of death increased by 2 percent for each shift below a selected staffing target and 4 percent for each shift with high patient turnover. Patient turnover is thought to divert nurses’ time and attention from other matters.
The study, using data from 2003-2006 at an unnamed academic medical center, identified shifts with staffing that was eight hours or more below an adjusted target.
To improve mortality, researchers suggested rewarding hospitals for ensuring adequate staffing and for paying close attention to patient transfers and other factors that increase staff’s workload.
Read the New England Journal of Medicine abstract on nurse staffing.
Read more coverage of nurse staffing levels:
– Nurses Happier Away From Hospitals, Nursing Homes
– Nurses at D.C.’s Washington Hospital Center Authorize Strike
– Nurses at Kaiser Los Angeles Medical Center to Strike
At Becker's 4th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, taking place November 2–5 in Chicago, more than 1,500 hospital and health system executives tackle decisions that determine whether organizations thrive or merely survive: protecting margins under cost pressure, choosing where to grow, renegotiating payer relationships, stabilizing the workforce and proving real ROI on technology. This is where leaders work through them together, face-to-face. Apply for complimentary registration now.
