(1) Background: an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of employing an increased number of nurses with higher education from the perspective of the service provider. (2) Methods: Based on a year-long study results and data collected from a large hospital, we conducted of the costs of preventing one death. The study involved intervention by 10% increase in the percentage of nursing care hours provided by nurses with higher education. The measure of health effects was the cost of avoiding one death (CER). The cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) was used as the evaluation method. (3) Results: The cost of employing a larger percentage of nurses with higher education amounts to a total of amounts to a USD 11,730.62 an increase of 3.02% as compared to the base costs. The estimated number of deaths that could be prevented was 44 deaths. Mortality per 1000 patient days was 9.42, mortality after intervention was 8.41. The cost of preventing one death by the 10% increase in BSN/MSN NCH percentage in non-surgical wards USD 263.92. (4) Conclusions: increasing the percentage of care hours provided by nurses with tertiary education is a cost-effective method of reducing in-hospital mortality.
Keywords: cost-effectiveness analysis; education level; in-hospital mortality; nurse staffing.