Research published in Health Services Research shows the impact of mandatory nurse staffing legislation on quality is unclear.
For the study, researchers compared the impact of staffing levels in California to states with no staffing ratio mandate from 2000 to 2006. The researchers found mixed outcomes regarding quality.
For instance, hospitals with the greatest staff increases or well-staffed hospitals saw the greatest decrease in the number of patients who died following a complication. However, researchers also found some infection rates increased more in California hospitals than hospitals without nurse staffing ratios. Researchers said this could be attributed to better reporting by better-staffed hospitals.
Study authors concluded more research is needed to better understand the impact of nurse staffing ratios.
For the study, researchers compared the impact of staffing levels in California to states with no staffing ratio mandate from 2000 to 2006. The researchers found mixed outcomes regarding quality.
For instance, hospitals with the greatest staff increases or well-staffed hospitals saw the greatest decrease in the number of patients who died following a complication. However, researchers also found some infection rates increased more in California hospitals than hospitals without nurse staffing ratios. Researchers said this could be attributed to better reporting by better-staffed hospitals.
Study authors concluded more research is needed to better understand the impact of nurse staffing ratios.
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