Low Nurse Staffing Levels Lead to Pneumonia in ICUs: New Study
Low nurse staffing levels in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) contribute to an increased incidence of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP), according to a new study published in the journal Critical Care. VAP is associated with high mortality rates, and can easily add dozens of days and substantial additional costs to a typical hospital stay. Researchers believe that when understaffed, nurses become overwhelmed by their case load and their compliance with basic hygiene standards is compromised. The training level of the nurses in the study had no measurable bearing on infection rates. V.A.P is a bacterial infection, and is spread from patient to patient. Authors of the study say it adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that staffing levels are of critical importance to patient safety and positive health outcomes.
Previously on the D.C. Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:
- Nurse staffing levels linked to patient death rates
- Hospital efforts to reduce costs put patients at risk
- Nursing rounds are good for patients and nurses
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