NEW YORK NURSE: October 2012
Major academic research studies back up what front-line nurses know from our own experience: safe nurse-to-patient ratios save lives.
A recent study from researcher Linda Aiken, Ph.D, RN, looked at 22,336 surveys from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and
California – the only state with legislated nurse-to-patient ratios. Here’s what they found:
“Nurses in California care for an average of one fewer patient each, and these lower ratios have sizeable effect on surgical patient mortality.”
“Outcomes are better for nurses and patients in hospitals that meet a benchmark on California nurse staffing mandates.”
“...the higher the percentage compliance with benchmark based on California ratios, regardless of the hospital state location, the less likely nurses are to report complaints from patients or families, verbal abuse of nurses by staff or patients, quality of care that is poor or only fair, and lack of confidence that their patients can manage after discharge.”
Studies in The New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and other peer-reviewed academic journals have found that nurse-to-patient ratios reverse adverse outcomes for patients, reduce nurse burnout, and even save hospitals money by avoiding unreimbursed expenses and reducing nurse turnover.
Source: Aiken, L. H., Sloane, D.M., Cimiotti, J.P., Clarke, S.P., Flynn, L., Seago, J.A., Spetz, J. & Smith, H.L. (2010). Implications of the California nurse staffing mandate for other states. Health Service Research, 45(4), 904-921.
These ratios are specified in the current version of the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act:
All intensive care |
1:1 | Newborn nursery |
1:3 |
Emergency critical care |
1:1 | Postpartum couplets |
1:3 |
Trauma emergency unit |
1:1 | Well-baby nursery |
1:6 |
Operating room |
1:1 | Pediatrics |
1:3 |
Post-anesthesia care |
1:2 | Emergency Dept |
1:3 |
Labor – stage 1 |
1:2 | Step-down/telemetry |
1:3 |
Labor – stages 2 & 3 |
1:1 | Medical/surgical |
1:4 |
Antepartum |
1:3 | Acute care psychiatric |
1:4 |
Non-critical antepartum |
1:4 | Rehabilitation units |
1:5 |
“Sometimes we see 8, 9, 10 patients at one time. The stress is unbelievable. We all make sure our patients get the absolute best care. But the staffing levels need to be improved. ”
— Caroline Africano, RN, Queens Hospital Center
“I give my patients the best care every day. But I can only be in one place at one time. New York patients deserve a guarantee that when they need a nurse, they’ll get one.”
— Teresa Jewett, RN, Ellis Hospital, Schenectady
“I didn’t get into this job to hang antibiotics all day. We need better staffing levels to make that happen – and let us spend the time we need with our patients to help them heal.”
— Kris Kolden, RN, Brooklyn Hospital
“This is not a Republican problem. This is not a Democratic problem. Safe staffing is a nursing problem.”
— Seth Dressekie, RN, Woodhull Hospital, Brooklyn