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Stressful nurses: the effect on patient outcomes
Journal of Nursing Care Quality
|April 1, 1996
Summary
This study found a strong link between hospital unit stress levels, measured by the Stress Continuum Scale (SCS), and patient incidents like falls and medication errors. Nurse stress did not strongly correlate with personal incidents or injuries.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Nursing Research
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Staffing issues and nurse stress are significant concerns in healthcare.
- Understanding the relationship between nurse stress and patient safety is crucial for improving care quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between nurse self-reported stress and various staffing and patient incidents.
- To determine if the Stress Continuum Scale (SCS) predicts patient safety events.
Main Methods:
- A 3-month study measuring nurse stress using the SCS.
- Collected data on nurse incidents (absenteeism, injuries) and patient incidents (falls, medication errors).
- Analyzed relationships between SCS scores, incidents, and staff turnover rates.
Main Results:
- A strong positive correlation was found between SCS scores and patient incidents.
- Weak associations were observed between SCS and nurse personal incidents/injuries, and staff turnover.
- A moderate association emerged between SCS and staff turnover when turnover data was lagged by one month.
Conclusions:
- Hospital unit stress, as measured by the SCS, is a significant predictor of patient safety incidents.
- While nurse stress shows a weak link to personal injuries, its impact on patient safety is more pronounced.
- Addressing unit-level stress may be a key strategy for reducing patient harm and improving healthcare outcomes.