Instability in patient and nurse characteristics, unit complexity and patient and system outcomes

Abstract

Instability in patient and nurse factors can contribute to ward complexity with potentially negative patient outcomes. The findings highlight the variation of many aspects of the system where nurses work and the importance of nursing unit managers and senior nurse executives in managing ward complexity.

Medication administration errors and related deviations from safe practice: an observational study

“…Duffield et al . () confirmed this association by concluding that instability in patient factors (such as occupancy) could contribute to negative patient outcomes (such as medication errors). Although Scott et al .…”

“…), bed occupancy (Duffield et al . ), staffing levels (Berdot et al . ), unit type (Van Wagtendonk et al .…”

‘Mental health day’ sickness absence amongst nurses and midwives: workplace, workforce, psychosocial and health characteristics

“…Australian nurse absenteeism data are scarce (Hall ); however, one study involving 62 nursing units across three states in Australia between 2008–2010 identified an overall average prevalence of 26·2%; and as high as 35% on one unit (Duffield et al . ). National data from Canada estimate that health professionals (including nurses) in general are 1·5 times more likely to be absent from work than workers in other industries, with average sickness absence days per person per annum ranging from 12 ‐ 15 (Davey et al .…”

Does nurses’ health affect their intention to remain in their current position?

“…Equally importantly, intention to leave results in the negative effects of staff turnover on team stability and the expense of staff replacement, estimated at, on average, $49 255 per full‐time equivalent (FTE) in Australia (Duffield et al . ,b Roche et al . , ).…”