Evaluating The Impact of Nursing Staffing Ratio on Patient Outcomes in Tertiary Care Setting

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of nurse staffing ratios on patient outcomes in tertiary care settings, focusing on the relationship between staffing levels and care quality. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 30 nurses in a tertiary care hospital to assess perceptions of staffing adequacy, workload distribution, and patient outcomes. Findings reveal significant concerns, with 76.7% of nurses reporting inadequate nurse-to-patient ratios and 73.3% indicating inequitable workload distribution. Key challenges included medication administration safety (70% expressing concerns), documentation accuracy (60% reporting difficulties), and hospital-acquired infection control (53.3% noting issues). Additionally, 70% of nurses believed that improving staffing ratios would reduce patient complications and errors. However, only 16.7% agreed that hospital management prioritizes adequate staffing, highlighting a disconnect between frontline needs and management decisions. The study concludes that lower nurse-to-patient ratios are associated with poorer patient outcomes, emphasizing the urgent need for policy changes to optimize staffing levels, enhance patient safety, and improve care quality in tertiary care settings. These findings provide critical insights for healthcare administrators and policymakers to address staffing challenges and ensure effective resource allocation.