Study Links Temporary Nursing Staff to Increased Patient Death Risk

A recent study conducted by the University of Southampton highlights the risks associated with low nursing staffing levels in hospitals, particularly regarding patient mortality. Analyzing data from over 600,000 patient admissions across 185 wards, researchers found that each day of low staffing among registered nurses increased the risk of patient death by 7.9%, while low support staff levels raised this risk by 7.2%. Although the use of temporary nursing staff can mitigate some risks, it does not fully resolve the heightened danger, as each 10% increase in temporary registered nurses correlates with a 2.3% rise in death risk. Additionally, employing temporary nursing support staff leads to a 4% increase in patient death risk. The study emphasizes that while temporary staff can help prevent immediate deaths, they are not a sustainable solution for maintaining patient safety, and permanent staffing solutions are necessary for long-term care quality.