[Safe staffing and falls in hospitals, systematic review of the literature]

Abstract

Safe nursing staffing and patient safety are closely related. A systematic review of the literature was carried out, comparing the number of falls in elderly inpatients in medical-surgical wards with these staffing levels. A review of scientific articles, selected through a keyword search of several electronic databases, showed a direct, although not significant, association between improved nurse staffing and a decrease in the number of falls in elderly inpatients.

Keywords: adverse event; chute; dotation sécuritaire; fall; nursing care; older person; personne âgée; safety; safety staffing; soin infirmier; sécurité; événement indésirable.