Reducing Emergency Department Nurse to Patient Ratios to Reduce Preventable Deaths
Disciplines
Nursing | Quality Improvement
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Background: Staffing shortages, exacerbated by high turnover rates from staff burnout, have created an unsafe environment for nurses and patients alike, by creating an intensive imbalance in RN-to-patient ratio allocation. Inadequate RN-to-patient ratios have shown an increase in adverse events as well as the length of stay in units, such as the emergency department.
Objectives: To analyze and synthesize current evidence of the relationship between the patient-nurse staff ratio and patient mortality rates in the emergency department.
Methods: Using relevant keywords, we extensively searched the Cochrane Database, PubMed, Google Scholar, JSTOR, and EBSCO electronic databases for studies published in English between (2010-2022), which focused on RN-to-patient ratio allocation and the subsequent impact on patients' outcomes. A quality assessment of the reviewed studies was conducted.
Results: In this review, a total of ten studies were included which consisted of five mixed-methods studies, four quantitative studies, and one qualitative study. Nurse-to-patient ratios positively influence various factors for both registered nurses and patients alike. A ratio of 1 RN to 3 patients showed a marked reduction in mortality rates among patients, as well as a reduction of the overall workload of registered nurses.
Conclusions: Implementing appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios in Emergency Departments could decrease poor health outcomes and subsequent mortality rates.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
Welstar School of Nursing
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Modupe Adewuyi
Reducing Emergency Department Nurse to Patient Ratios to Reduce Preventable Deaths
Background: Staffing shortages, exacerbated by high turnover rates from staff burnout, have created an unsafe environment for nurses and patients alike, by creating an intensive imbalance in RN-to-patient ratio allocation. Inadequate RN-to-patient ratios have shown an increase in adverse events as well as the length of stay in units, such as the emergency department.
Objectives: To analyze and synthesize current evidence of the relationship between the patient-nurse staff ratio and patient mortality rates in the emergency department.
Methods: Using relevant keywords, we extensively searched the Cochrane Database, PubMed, Google Scholar, JSTOR, and EBSCO electronic databases for studies published in English between (2010-2022), which focused on RN-to-patient ratio allocation and the subsequent impact on patients' outcomes. A quality assessment of the reviewed studies was conducted.
Results: In this review, a total of ten studies were included which consisted of five mixed-methods studies, four quantitative studies, and one qualitative study. Nurse-to-patient ratios positively influence various factors for both registered nurses and patients alike. A ratio of 1 RN to 3 patients showed a marked reduction in mortality rates among patients, as well as a reduction of the overall workload of registered nurses.
Conclusions: Implementing appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios in Emergency Departments could decrease poor health outcomes and subsequent mortality rates.