ORIGINAL ARTICLE
The effect of nurse staffing on patient-safety outcomes: A cross-sectional survey
Limin Wang RN, PhD,
Han Lu RN, PhD,
Xu Dong RN, MD,
Xiuxiu Huang RN, MD,
Bei Li RN, MD,
Qiaoqin Wan RN, PhD,
Shaomei Shang RN, MD,
Limin Wang RN, PhD
Peking University School of Nursing, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorHan Lu RN, PhD
Peking University School of Nursing, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorXu Dong RN, MD
Peking University School of Nursing, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorXiuxiu Huang RN, MD
Peking University School of Nursing, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorBei Li RN, MD
Peking University School of Nursing, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorQiaoqin Wan RN, PhD
Associate Professor
Peking University School of Nursing, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Shaomei Shang RN, MD
Professor
Peking University School of Nursing, Beijing, China
Correspondence
Shaomei Shang, School of Nursing, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorLimin Wang RN, PhD,
Han Lu RN, PhD,
Xu Dong RN, MD,
Xiuxiu Huang RN, MD,
Bei Li RN, MD,
Qiaoqin Wan RN, PhD,
Shaomei Shang RN, MD,
Limin Wang RN, PhD
Peking University School of Nursing, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorHan Lu RN, PhD
Peking University School of Nursing, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorXu Dong RN, MD
Peking University School of Nursing, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorXiuxiu Huang RN, MD
Peking University School of Nursing, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorBei Li RN, MD
Peking University School of Nursing, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorQiaoqin Wan RN, PhD
Associate Professor
Peking University School of Nursing, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Shaomei Shang RN, MD
Professor
Peking University School of Nursing, Beijing, China
Correspondence
Shaomei Shang, School of Nursing, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorCo-first author: Limin Wang & Qiaoqin Wan
Abstract
Aim
To analyse the effect of nurse staffing (number of nurses and staff structure) on patient-safety outcomes in hospitals in China.
Background
The number of nurses has been shown to have a significant effect on patient-safety outcomes, but the structure of the nursing staff has received little attention.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 211 units of 13 hospitals. Data on four patient-safety outcomes and numerical and structural indices of nurse staffing were collected from seven types of hospital units.
Results
Nurse staffing had inconsistent effects on units’ rates of fall and hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. The nurse-to-patient ratio and rate of nurses with work experience ≤5 years predicted fall rates, and rate of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers was positively correlated to the level of nurse staffing (low nurse-to-patient ratio and high bed-to-nurse number).
Conclusions
The number and structure of nurses are both important to patient safety, and the rate of nurses with work experience ≤5 years might be a protective factor against adverse events.
Implications for Nursing Management
Patient outcomes correlated with the number and structure of the nursing staff. Methods to balance the structure of nursing staff might be a topic worthy of examination in future studies.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Supporting Information
| Filename | Description |
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| jonm13138-sup-0001-TableS1.docxWord document, 13.9 KB | Table S1 |
Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
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