Influence of Nurse Staffing Levels on Resident Weight Loss Within German Nursing Homes.

In Germany, there is no empirical evidence regarding the relationship between nurse staffing levels and care outcomes in nursing homes. The current study explored differences in nurse staffing levels between facilities with and without resident weight loss. The analyses were conducted at the facility level (N = 166) and involved weight loss assessment of 8,665 residents. Separate models for residents with and without cognitive impairment were computed. The regression analyses showed that nursing facilities where no weight loss occurred among residents without cognitive impairment had a lower number of residents per RN and additional care staff. However, no differences were found between facilities with and without weight loss among residents with cognitive disabilities. Further research is needed to identify factors leading to weight loss among residents with cognitive disabilities, including teamwork and work climate in nursing homes. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2018; 11(1):48-56.]. Copyright 2018, SLACK Incorporated.