Well, I have several comments. The Association of California Nurse Leaders, who were part of the sponsorship of the study, are nurse managers. Here is their membership criteria from their website:
"Regular membership is available to registered nurses who: have responsibility for leadership of the patient care process in any setting manage financial and human resources in health care settings direct appropriate allocation and utilization of human resources provide education and/or consultation to health care providers or consumers of health care provide health care in an advanced and/or independent practice role design, conduct or evaluate research conduct accreditation/licensing surveys publish, edit, or author a health care or business publication provide leadership in the regulatory, nonprofit or legal environment hold an appointed or elected public office "
They are not exactly an unbiased group.
Secondly, we have to ask whether pressure ulcers and falls are measures of nursing quality? Is this a reliable measurement? Perhaps their PCTs are understaffed.
Pressure ulcers are often unavoidable. In my hospital, we get so many debilitated, malnourished, either underweight or obese, with poor mobility, elderly, incontinent, etc. Unless the nurses wave a magic wand, pressure ulcers are going to develop, unfortunately.
I can't really comment any more until I have read the study, but methinks I smell a rat. I can see nurse managers all over the country jacking up the patient load now, citing this study.
Let's not forget Linda Aiken's excellent study on mortality rates and patient ratios. Here's the link:
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content...e2=tf_ipsecsha
Skeptically,
Oldiebutgoodie
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