Impact of nurse staffing challenges on clinical outcomes

Editor's Note

This study by nurse researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham examines nurse staffing and its relationship to quality nursing care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among the findings:

• Pearson correlation showed a statistically significant, moderately strong negative correlation between the active RN full-time equivalent (FTE) and average patient length of stay (LOS) and a moderately strong positive correlation between the travel RN FTE and LOS.
• Pearson correlation showed no statistical significance, with low to moderate negative correlations for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), and falls.
• Pearson correlation showed a statistically significant, moderately strong positive correlation between active RN and hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs).
• Common cause variation was observed in CAUTIs, and CLABSIs, with HAPIs and falls showing special cause variation via statistical process control.

Despite the decline in permanent staff, increase in travel nurses, and increase in average patient LOS during the 24-month study period, positive clinical outcomes were maintained, the researchers say.