Higher numbers of nurses and consultants improve survival rates for critically ill patients

Abstract

Implications for practice and research: The number of nurses, as well as doctors, working in intensive care units (ICUs) is associated with patient mortality. Patients at high risk of death are more vulnerable if they are admitted to ICUs with lower nurse staffing, while higher unit workload in ICUs is associated with higher patient mortality. Future research would be aided by the establishment of standardised national electronic databases.