The impact of nurse staffing on falls performance within a health care system: A descriptive study

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of nurse staffing on inpatient falls performance across a multi-hospital system.

Background: Evidence to support which staffing variables influence fall performance so that health care organizations can better allocate resources is lacking.

Method: A descriptive study design was used to analyse the impact of nurse staffing and falls performance, with units dichotomized as either high or low performing based on national benchmarking data. The impact was evaluated using 10 nurse staffing variables.

Results: A total of nine units were included (five high and four low performing). Higher performing units showed less use of sitters and travellers, had fewer overtime hours worked by nurses, and employed more expert-level clinical nurses and combined nursing assistant/health unit coordinator positions, than lower performing units.

Conclusion: Findings provide evidence of how staffing variables affect a unit's falls performance. While significant relationships were found, further evaluation is needed to explore the relationship of staffing variables and quality outcomes.

Implications for nursing management: Nursing managers may consider trying to reduce use of sitters and travellers, and utilize innovative staffing models, such as using combined nursing assistant/health unit coordinator positions, to help improve their falls performance.

Keywords: falls; nursing; skill mix; staffing; staffing ratios.