Interesting article about staffing ratios

[bill4745, RN]

For Children With Common Conditions, Hospital Readmissions Affected By Nurse Staffing Ratios

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A new study shows that pediatric nurse staffing ratios are significantly associated with hospital readmission for children with common medical and surgical conditions.

The study, led by a nurse scientist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, is believed to be the first to examine the extent to which hospital nurse staffing levels are related to pediatric readmissions. Publication of the study comes just weeks after the introduction of federal legislation that would mandate nurse staffing ratios across the country.

The study, published online in the journal BMJ Quality and Safety in Health Care, looked at such common medical and surgical conditions as pneumonia and appendectomy.

"Preventing unnecessary hospital readmissions is an increasingly important focus of large-scale quality improvement initiatives," says Heather Tubbs-Cooley, PhD, RN, a nurse scientist at Cincinnati Children's and the study's main author. "Reducing preventable readmissions is also a high priority for hospitals, particularly as they face the prospect of nonpayment for these services."

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/260302.ph

[Chisca, RN]

As Laura Gasparius Vonfrolio says, "You need a nurse to save your life!"

[amoLucia]

Just from reading OP's post (not the article yet), it would be phenomenal to think that a nurse's research study could connect readmissions with the geriatric, 'frequent flyer' population, be they community or LTC/NH subjects.

What a fact-based study to promote better staffing patterns for hospital nurses that would foster improved long-range pt outcomes!

Of course, whether the head honchos would embrace the study recommendations for better staffing would remain to be seen!

Now if someone would come up with a similar, reversed study that would promote improved staffing for LTC/NH facilities to better DECREASE the readmissions of their pts to those hospitals...

Oh, what wishful thinking...

[LaRN]

"Publication of the study comes just weeks after the introduction of federal legislation that would mandate nurse staffing ratios across the country."

wow, that in itself is very interesting. This is the first I've heard of any federal rules on ratios, but that would be great if it could pass.

Big health care corporations have been getting richer while their patients just get sicker. All the while causing our budget deficit so soar.