Columbia Study Highlights Nursing Ratios
A study from researchers at the Columbia University School of Nursing published in the June issue of Medical Care noted a higher rate of hospital-acquired infections in intensive care units (ICUs) whose nursing staff had superior working conditions.
Among working conditions evaluated by the authors in the retrospective review including over 15,000 patients from 51 ICUs were staffing, overtime hours, and salary levels. Also considered were the hospital’s profit margins and recognition for nursing excellence. Outcomes data to assess study endpoints was collected from both Medicare and the CDC database that monitors nosocomial infections.
The study revealed a lower rate of hospital acquired infections in facilities with more staffing; including central line associated bloodstream infections, skin ulcers, and ventilator-associated pneumonia. Other infections increased in facilities that had more nurses working overtime, particularly urinary tract infections associated with catheter use.
The report authors recommend modifications in staffing plans to decrease overtime and increase nurses available to work in ICUs. An additional recommendation entails further training nurses from other units within hospitals to faciliate cross-coverage.
The study presents practical solutions to decreasing these hospital-based infections. The solutions may initially increase overhead with higher staffing costs. But, long term these solutions can decrease overall healthcare costs by reducing the incidence of hospital-acquired illnesses.
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May 29, 2007 Related topics: Quality, Safety, Errors, Policies & Procedures, Cost savings