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Abstract:
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In the present context of ever increasing health care costs and rising demands for high-quality of care and improved outcomes, hospitals feel the need to provide a more efficient and supportive work environment for their staff. In particular, the nursing workforce plays a vital role in delivering the best possible care. While conventional wisdom would indicate that a higher nurse-to-patient ratio would result in better outcomes, this does not constitute the full story. An improved working environment is also essential in maintaining work satisfaction and reduce turnover among the nursing staff. In the present study, we analyzed data from the National Database Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) to study the effects of nursing staffing levels and working environment on a series of indicators reflecting quality of care: Falls, Pressure Ulcers, Quality of Care Ratings and Patient Experience. We also studied how these factors were associated to Publicly Reported Outcomes and scores related to payment: Value Based Purchasing and its components, Hospital Acquired Conditions and Readmissions. Finally, we analyzed nurse job satisfaction, turnover and intent-to-stay
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