Exploring the association between safe staffing levels and nurses' health and well-being

The association between low nurse staffing levels and adverse patient outcomes is well established. There is also a substantial body of evidence demonstrating that low nurse staffing levels can negatively affect the health and well-being of nurses, in terms of increased stress levels, burnout, job dissatisfaction and intention to leave the role or profession. Given the challenges with nurse retention in the UK, there is a need for strategic workforce planning to address these issues. In this article, the author explores the association between safe staffing levels and nurses' health and well-being, with a focus on burnout, job satisfaction and intention to leave. The author also reviews some of the workforce strategies and initiatives that aim to improve nurses' well-being through addressing low staffing levels and issues related to the workplace environment.