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. 2020 Oct/Dec;35(4):323-328.
doi: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000479.

Staffing Trends in Magnet and Non-Magnet Hospitals After State Legislation

Pamela B de Cordova  1 , Terry Jones, Kathryn A Riman, Jeannette Rogowski, Matthew D McHugh
Affiliations

Staffing Trends in Magnet and Non-Magnet Hospitals After State Legislation

Pamela B de Cordova et al. J Nurs Care Qual. 2020 Oct/Dec.

Abstract

Background: Evidence suggests that Magnet and non-Magnet hospitals differ with respect to quality of care.

Purpose: Our study examined registered nurse (RN) staffing over time in Magnet and non-Magnet hospitals using unit-level, publicly available data in New Jersey.

Methods: A secondary analysis of longitudinal RN staffing data was conducted using mandated, publicly reported data of 64 hospitals representing 12 nursing specialties across 8 years (2008-2015). Staffing ratios were trended over time to compare RN staffing changes in Magnet and non-Magnet hospitals.

Results: Staffing was comparable in Magnet and non-Magnet hospitals for 9 of 12 specialties. On average, from 2008 until 2015, RN staffing slightly increased, with a greater percent increase in Magnet hospitals (6.9%) than in non-Magnet hospitals (4.7%).

Conclusions: Over 8 years in New Jersey, RN staffing improved in Magnet and non-Magnet hospitals. Although there was a slight increase for Magnet hospitals, there was no meaningful difference in staffing for all 12 specialties.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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