Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine recent trends in nurse staffing levels and nursing staff composition. Recent trends in hospital nurse staffing have not been well described, and the effects of the 2007 to 2012 recession and 2008 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rule change are unknown. A longitudinal study of unit-level data from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) and hospital-level data from the American Hospital Association (AHA) annual survey was conducted. From 2004 to 2011, total nursing hours per patient day on general care units in NDNQI hospitals increased by 11.5%, and registered nurse (RN) hours per patient day by 22.9%. Trends were similar in AHA hospitals. Hospitals have steadily increased total nurse staffing levels by increasing RN staffing. Use of temporary RNs in hospitals plummeted from mid-2008. There were no apparent changes in staffing levels due to the recession and/or CMS rule change.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
