Cristina Petrucci1, Maria Teresa Calandro2, Federica Tresulti3, Antonio Baldacchini4, Loreto Lancia5. 1. Researcher in nursing Science, University of L'Aquila. 2. Nurse, Presidio Ospedaliero di Tivoli - Azienda Sanitaria Locale RMG. 3. Infermiera Esperta - Fondazione Policlinico "Tor Vergata" di Roma. 4. Infermiere - Presidio Ospedaliero Penne - Azienda Sanitaria Locale Pescara. 5. Professore Associato in Scienze Infermieristiche - Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, Sanità Pubblica, Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente - Università degli Studi dell'Aquila. Correspondence: loreto.lancia@cc.univaq.it.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The measurement of nursing sensitive outcomes represents a fundamental element in "Health Management" in order to assess the suitability and quality of care given, particoulaly in hospitals for the acutely ill. OBJECTIVES: To highlight how some variables connected with nurse-staffing can determine the quality of processes and the care outcomes. METHODS: A narrative review of international literature has been carried out on investigating possible correlation between nurse-staffing characteristics and care outcomes regarding patients, taking into account primary and secondary sources, written either in English or Italian, without time limits. RESULTS: The bibliographical research strategies used, have brought about the restitution of no. 4244 articles were retrived, of these 56 were analyzed. Articles were categorized into 3 specific areas: 1) Which aspects determine the efficacy and quality of nursing care; 2) The direct effects of nursing care on care outcomes; 3) The indirect effects of nursing care on care outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Results confirm the existence of a noticeable relationship between the main components of nurse-staffing and the direct and indirect outcomes on patients health. Longitudinal studies shound be carried out highlighting the results obtained up till now even more and assist in accurately measuring the importance of possible predictive variables on care outcomes correlated to nursing care.
INTRODUCTION: The measurement of nursing sensitive outcomes represents a fundamental element in "Health Management" in order to assess the suitability and quality of care given, particoulaly in hospitals for the acutely ill. OBJECTIVES: To highlight how some variables connected with nurse-staffing can determine the quality of processes and the care outcomes. METHODS: A narrative review of international literature has been carried out on investigating possible correlation between nurse-staffing characteristics and care outcomes regarding patients, taking into account primary and secondary sources, written either in English or Italian, without time limits. RESULTS: The bibliographical research strategies used, have brought about the restitution of no. 4244 articles were retrived, of these 56 were analyzed. Articles were categorized into 3 specific areas: 1) Which aspects determine the efficacy and quality of nursing care; 2) The direct effects of nursing care on care outcomes; 3) The indirect effects of nursing care on care outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Results confirm the existence of a noticeable relationship between the main components of nurse-staffing and the direct and indirect outcomes on patients health. Longitudinal studies shound be carried out highlighting the results obtained up till now even more and assist in accurately measuring the importance of possible predictive variables on care outcomes correlated to nursing care.