Where Have All the Nurses Gone? Final Results of Our Patient Care Survey

Licensed Nurse Staffing and Adverse Events in Hospitals

“…In addition, two thirds said there had been an increase in the number of patients assigned to RNs, and three fourths believed that the acuity of patients had risen. 8 Nurses believe that these changes have negatively affected the quality of nursing care. They report "dangerously low staffing levels," 7 or "understaffing," 9 exacerbated by increased patient acuity and decreased length of stay.…”

“…6 Many report an increase in medication errors, infections, pressure ulcers, skin breakdown, and patient injuries. 8 By 2001, only 34% of US nurses felt that staffing was adequate for high-quality care. Only 33% felt that there were enough nurses to get the work done.…”

Work-schedule characteristics and reported musculoskeletal disorders of registered nurses

“…In order to meet these demands, nurses have historically been required to work a variety of schedules. Sweeping changes in the health care industry in the United States over the past two decades have led to an increase in extended and highly demanding work schedules (1)(2)(3). The impact of extended work schedules on nurses' health and safety is of concern because such schedules increase exposure to physical and psychological job demands and reduce time for rest and recuperative leisure-time activities.…”

To see or not to see: Investigating the links between patient visibility and potential moderators affecting the patient experience

“…As it has become more common for nursing units to be understaffed and/or overworked (Anderson, 2007;Hassmiller & Cozine, 2006;Shindul-Rothschild, Berry, & Long-Middleton, 1996), it is important to consider how nursing staff can potentially use their time more efficiently and more effectively (Hendrich, Chow, Skierczynski, & Lu, 2008;Storfjell, Omoike, & Ohlson, 2008). One of the most desired goals in acute care is to increase the amount of time a nurse is able to interact with and directly care for a patient.…”