|
|
. |
Relationships
Between Registered Nurse Staffing, Processes of Nursing Care, and
Nurse-Reported Patient Outcomes in Chronic Hemodialysis Units- Download article and take CE posttest
Charlotte Thomas-Hawkins
Linda Flynn
Sean P. Clarke
Little
attention has been given to the effects of registered nurse (RN)
staffing and processes of nursing care on patient outcomes in
hemodialysis units. This research examined the effects of patient-to-RN
ratios and necessary tasks left undone by RNs on the likelihood of
nurse-reported frequent occurrences of adverse patient events in
chronic hemodialysis units. Study findings revealed that high
patient-to-RN ratios and increased numbers of tasks left undone by RNs
were associated with an increased likelihood of frequent occurrences of
dialysis hypotension, skipped dialysis treatments, shortened dialysis
treatments, and patient complaints in hemodialysis units. These
findings indicate that federal, state, and dialysis organization
policies must foster staffing structures and processes of care in
dialysis units that effectively utilize the invaluable skills and
services of professional, registered nurses.
|
| Charlotte Thomas-Hawkins, PhD, RN, is
an Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, Rutgers, The State
University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ. She is a member of ANNA’s Garden
State Chapter.
Linda Flynn, PhD, RN, is an Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ.
Sean P. Clarke, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, is
an Associate Professor of Nursing and Associate Director, Center for
Health Outcomes and Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia, PA.
| |
