Abstract

ARANGO, Gloria L.; PENA, Beatriz  and  VEGA, Yolanda. Association between Nurse Staffing and Indicators of Healthcare Quality in Adult Intensive Care Units. Aquichan [online]. 2015, vol.15, n.1, pp.90-104. ISSN 1657-5997.  https://doi.org/10.5294/aqui.2015.15.1.9.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to identify the association between nursing staffing and indicators of healthcare quality in intensive care units. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was done using a correlational component in which 4006 work shifts were observed and staffing variables (structure) and results were analyzed in terms of cases of shock or arrest, infections associated with health care, number of deaths, and all adverse health events. Findings: The findings show nurses conduct a limited number of activities involving direct patient care. These focus on administering medication, supervising transfusions and other administrative tasks, while assistant nurses handle direct patient care, including complex activities. The average patient-to-nurse ratio was 5.4 patients per nurse available during the shift, while the average patient-to-nursing assistant ratio was 2.4. The correlations are inconclusive. Conclusions: It is suggested the skill mix be explored further as a more sensitive measure of staffing, and recommendations are made on differentiating activities between nursing professionals and assistant nurses. Several considerations are raise concerning staff allocation.

Keywords : Resource allocation for health care; nursing; health human resources; organization and administration; patient-to-nurse ratio; intensive care.

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