Higher Quality of Care and Patient Safety Associated With Better NICU Work Environments

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) work environment, quality of care, safety, and patient outcomes. A secondary analysis was conducted of responses of 1247 NICU staff nurses in 171 hospitals to a large nurse survey. Better work environments were associated with lower odds of nurses reporting poor quality, safety, and outcomes. Improving the work environment may be a promising strategy to achieve safer settings for at-risk newborns.

Figure 1

Percent of nurses reporting NICU quality and safety outcomes by work environment category Fair/Poor Quality of Care: Nurse Rating of quality of nursing care delivered to patients as fair or poor (n= 1237) Poor Safety Grade: Nurse rating of unit safety as acceptable, poor, or failing (n = 1242) Frequent Central Line Infection: Nurse rating of frequent central line infection as a few times a month or more (n = 1194) Not Confident in Discharge Care: Nurse rating of patient ability to manage care at discharge as somewhat or not at all confident (n = 1017)