Andrew Dierkes1, Duy Do2, Haley Morin2, Monica Rochman2, Douglas Sloane2, Matthew McHugh2. 1. Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Electronic address: amd323@pitt.edu. 2. Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of adequate hospital nurse staffing, California is the only state with minimum nurse-to-patient ratio mandates. The health care workforce is historically "countercyclical"-exhibiting growth during economic recessions when employment in other sectors is shrinking. PURPOSE: This study was to examine how staffing mandates impact hospital nurse staffing during economic recessions. METHOD: We compared hospital nurse staffing in California and in other states over 20 years to examine differences before and after the California mandate and, within the postmandate period, before, during, and after the Great Recession of 2008. FINDINGS: Staffing differences increased during the postmandate period due to faster growth in California staffing compared to other states, except during the Great Recession, when staffing remained stable in California but declined in other states. DISCUSSION: State legislators deliberating staffing mandates should consider the protective factor such policies provide during economic recessions and the implications for the quality and safety of care.
BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of adequate hospital nurse staffing, California is the only state with minimum nurse-to-patient ratio mandates. The health care workforce is historically "countercyclical"-exhibiting growth during economic recessions when employment in other sectors is shrinking. PURPOSE: This study was to examine how staffing mandates impact hospital nurse staffing during economic recessions. METHOD: We compared hospital nurse staffing in California and in other states over 20 years to examine differences before and after the California mandate and, within the postmandate period, before, during, and after the Great Recession of 2008. FINDINGS: Staffing differences increased during the postmandate period due to faster growth in California staffing compared to other states, except during the Great Recession, when staffing remained stable in California but declined in other states. DISCUSSION: State legislators deliberating staffing mandates should consider the protective factor such policies provide during economic recessions and the implications for the quality and safety of care.
Authors: Matthew D McHugh; Margo Brooks Carthon; Douglas M Sloane; Evan Wu; Lesly Kelly; Linda H Aiken Journal: Milbank Q Date: 2012-03 Impact factor: 4.911
Authors: Jack Needleman; Peter Buerhaus; V Shane Pankratz; Cynthia L Leibson; Susanna R Stevens; Marcelline Harris Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2011-03-17 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Linda H Aiken; Douglas M Sloane; Jeannie P Cimiotti; Sean P Clarke; Linda Flynn; Jean Ann Seago; Joanne Spetz; Herbert L Smith Journal: Health Serv Res Date: 2010-04-09 Impact factor: 3.402
Authors: Linda H Aiken; Douglas M Sloane; Luk Bruyneel; Koen Van den Heede; Peter Griffiths; Reinhard Busse; Marianna Diomidous; Juha Kinnunen; Maria Kózka; Emmanuel Lesaffre; Matthew D McHugh; M T Moreno-Casbas; Anne Marie Rafferty; Rene Schwendimann; P Anne Scott; Carol Tishelman; Theo van Achterberg; Walter Sermeus Journal: Lancet Date: 2014-02-26 Impact factor: 79.321