An integrated analysis of nurse staffing and related variables: effects on patient outcomes

The objective of this article is to synthesize much of the research done on nurse staffing and patient outcomes; the impact of organizational characteristics on nurse staffing patterns, patient outcomes, and costs; and the impact of nurses' experience on patient outcomes. The author concludes research indicates that nurse staffing has a definite and measurable impact on patient outcomes, medical errors, length of stay, nurse turnover, and patient mortality. Moreover, the literature reports data that help determine what is, indeed, appropriate staffing. Ratios are important--a consensus seems to be emerging supporting a range of from 4 to 6 patients per nurse in most acute care hospital inpatient settings, with no more than one to two patients per nurse in areas of high patient acuity. However, ratios must be modified by the nurses' level of experience, the organization's characteristics, and the quality of clinical interaction between and among physicians, nurses, and administrators.