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Hospitals with more RNs have shorter lengths of stay

Case Management Weekly, May 26, 2004

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A compilation of nurse staff analyses showed that hospitals with less RNs have longer lengths of stay and higher rates of poor patient outcomes, such as urinary tract infection, pneumonia, shock, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

A group of six studies funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) found that hospitals with nurse staffing problems and less RNs compared to LPNs were more susceptible to these adverse patient outcomes.  

While hospitals may worry that hiring more RNs will impact the facility's finances, the study says differently. A one percent increase in full-time RNs increased a facility's operating expenses by 0.25 percent, but did not affect the institution's profit margins.

Source: "Hospital Nurse Staffing and Quality of Care," Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

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