The association between nurse staffing levels and paediatric nursing-sensitive outcomes in tertiary hospitals

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to explore the association between paediatric nursing-sensitive outcomes and nurse staffing levels.

Background: Although previous studies have reported an association between low nursing-sensitive outcomes and high nurse staffing levels in adult populations, there are few studies on paediatric nursing-sensitive outcomes.

Methods: This study used electronic Health insurance review and assessment data for all children under 18 years old admitted at 46 tertiary hospitals in Korea between 2013 and 2014. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine relationships among nurse staffing levels and 11 paediatric nursing-sensitive outcomes.

Results: Nurse staffing levels had a clear relationship with the occurrence of lower respiratory tract infection and gastrointestinal infection. Five paediatric nursing-sensitive outcomes (pneumonia, sepsis, arrest / shock / respiratory failure, wound infection and postoperative cardiopulmonary complication) showed weak relationships with nurse staffing levels. Pressure ulcers and failure to rescue had the lowest incidences in hospitals with the lowest nurse staffing levels.

Conclusions: We demonstrated evidence for the relationships of nurse staffing levels with seven paediatric nursing-sensitive outcomes.

Implications for nursing management: For quality paediatric nursing care, nurse staffing improvement is required. The study results could be useful evidence for appropriateness of nursing staffing in paediatric facilities.

Keywords: hospitals; nursing staff; nursing-sensitive outcome; paediatric patients; quality of nursing.