A major study has found that nursing fall offs is the cause of higher patient death rates in hospitals.26 February, 2014 | By The Press Association
According to the data from 300 European hospitals in nine countries the risk of death within a month of surgery is 7% for every extra patient added to a nurse workload. The research showed that poorly qualified nurse has made the situation even worse. According to the researchers the highest risk of death after surgery was found in hospitals where nurses with lower levels of education cared for the most patients.
The Lancet journal, included figures for 30 English hospitals showing that on average every one of their nurses looked after around nine patients. Increase in 10% of nurses who are holding bachelor degree is associated with 7% decrease in surgical death rates.
In some other countries the patient-to-nurse ratio was significantly smaller. Researchers considered number of factors such as nurse workload, education and patient outcomes which can impact the result. These included factors such as the age and sex of patients, types of surgical procedure, chronic conditions, and the kind of technology available in a hospital.
“This research comprehensively rebuts the myth that degree-level education for nurses is a retrograde step” Professor Ieuan Ellis
Read more about it: www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-zones/patient-safety/nurse-cuts-linked-to-death-rates-says-major-study/5068387.article