BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NURSE STAFFING TO IMPROVE PATIENT SAFETY OUTCOMES IN THE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Currently, there are no regulations regarding nurse staffing in most of the United States.Low staffing is associated with increased falls, medication errors, mortality, pressure injuries, and infections. Notable nursing organizations have suggested safe staffing ratios, but ratios experienced nationwide are much higher. There were three aims to this thesis. The first being to highlight the relationship that exists between low nurse staffing levels and patient safety outcomes. The second was to identify nursing-to-patient ratios that reduce the likelihood of adverse patient outcomes on three general nursing units. The last aim was to identify the financial costs associated with negative patient outcomes. Reduction of adverse patient outcomes by utilizing mandated nursing-to-patient ratios can lead to cost savings.From this research, evidence-based practice guidelines regarding nursing-to-patient ratios were created. Ratios proven to reduce the incidence of these outcomes are 1:4 on medical-surgical units, 1:2 in the intensive care unit, and 1:3 in the emergency department with adjustments made for specific patient populations. Charge nurses, when kept out of staffing, arecrucial to patient safety and act as a huge resource for nurses. To keep patients safe and improve retention of nurses, proactive and safer staffing is necessary.