Not unexpectedly, the study found that hospitals with higher nurse staffing and other elements of a more congenial work environment (supportive managements, adequate break times, etc.) tended to have lower job dissatisfaction, burnout and intention-to-leave-employment rates. Earlier research has indicated that these things cut readmissions for heart failure, pneumonia and myocardial infarction.
But interestingly, hospitals with the least pleasant work environments had patient fall rates virtually the same as those with below-average and above-average staffing scores. So staffing alone doesn’t improve all outcomes if the hospital doesn’t also implement other elements of an improved work environment besides staffing. Understaffing, of course, leads to excessive overtime hours for already tired and stressed nurses.
Press Ganey’s report, “Nursing Special Report: The Influence of Nurse Work Environment on Patient, Payment and Nurse Outcomes in Acute Care Settings” looked at the work environment on key performance measures.
The company said: “Based on an integrated analysis of data across multiple performance domains, findings provide actionable insights to help health system leaders:
- “Understand the relationship between nurse work environment, staffing and key performance measures.
- “Identify the impact of nurse work environment on patient safety, quality, experience and value measures.
- “Prioritize improvement opportunities to optimize efficiency and reduce patient suffering.”
