| The impact of nurses on patient morbidity and mortality - the need for a policy change in response to the nursing shortage. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20797363 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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CONTEXT: Workforce projections indicate that by 2012 there will be a shortfall of 61,000 registered nurses in Australia. There is a growing body of evidence that links registered nurse staffing to better patient outcomes. PURPOSE: This article provides a comprehensive review of the research linking nurse staffing to patient outcomes at a time of growing shortages, highlighting that a policy response based on substituting registered nurses with lower skilled workers may have adverse effects on patient outcomes. METHOD: An electronic search of articles published in English using the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Journals @ OVID and Medline was undertaken. FINDINGS: Robust evidence exists nationally and internationally that links nurse staffing to patient outcomes. Recent meta-analyses have found that there was a 3-12% reduction in adverse outcomes and a 16% reduction in the risk of mortality in surgical patients with higher registered nurse staffing. Evidence confirms that improvements in nurse staffing is a cost-effective investment for the health system but this is not fully appreciated by health policy advisors. CONCLUSIONS: An appropriate policy response demands that the evidence that patient safety is linked to nurse staffing be recognised. Policy makers must ensure there are sufficient registered nurses to guarantee patient safety. |
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Authors:
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Di Twigg; Christine Duffield; Peter L Thompson; Pat Rapley |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Australian health review : a publication of the Australian Hospital Association Volume: 34 ISSN: 0156-5788 ISO Abbreviation: Aust Health Rev Publication Date: 2010 Aug |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-08-27 Completed Date: 2010-10-19 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 8214381 Medline TA: Aust Health Rev Country: Australia |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 312-6 Citation Subset: H |
Affiliation:
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School of Nursing, Midwifery and Postgraduate Medicine, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia. |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Australia Hospital Mortality* Humans Interviews as Topic Morbidity* Nurse's Role* Nurses / supply & distribution* Organizational Policy* Patients* Policy Making* |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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