From the ANA SmartBrief

RN staffing levels can affect readmissions, study finds
Hospitals using more non-overtime registered nurses reduced the risk of patient readmissions because the RNs had more time to teach patients how to manage their health conditions after discharge, according to a study funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The report in the journal Health Services Research also found hospitals that had higher levels of RN overtime had poorer discharge outcomes and more ED visits in the 30 days after discharge. Center for Advancing Health/Health Behavior News Service (4/26)


Another BIG surprise and OH My!, Another article on staffing and it's effect on patients...
What possible part does poor staffing play on nurses? Required overtime? Stress? Fatigue?
What possible part does poor staffing play on patients? Falls? Medication Errors, Pressure Ulcers?


Let's face it folks, there are only so many hours in a day and only so many jobs can be done in that time. Even the well-rested, not working overtime nurse can only complete so many tasks.


And guess what...Nursing satisfaction effects patient satisfaction...The two go hand in hand...
LOL..Like
Beaches and sunrises
Peanut Butter and Jelly,
Life and Death


And just like that Nursing Satisfaction effects the number of sentinel events that occur...Saving lives is intrinsic to nursing, but just like having equipment that works properly, the HEART machine that is Nursing Care, needs to be Right too...