A Meta Analysis of Nurse Staffing Ratios and Patient Safety and Correlations Between Nurse Workload and Clinical Outcomes
Keywords:
Nurse staffing ratios, patient safety, nurse workload, clinical outcomes, healthcare qualityAbstract
This meta-analysis explores the impact of nurse staffing ratios and nurse workload on patient safety and clinical outcomes. Across multiple studies, a consistent pattern emerges: increased nurse workload and inadequate staffing correlate strongly with adverse outcomes such as medication errors, patient mortality, and nurse burnout. This paper synthesizes findings from peer-reviewed studies published before 2024 and offers recommendations for staffing policies that prioritize patient safety.
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