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Research finds link between nurse workloads and patient deaths

Ireland had a patient-to-nurse ratio of 6.9 to one in 2009-10

Research conducted in nine European countries, including Ireland, has identified a link between the number of nurses employed in a hospital and patient deaths after common surgical procedures.

The study, published online today in the The Lancet, found that better education and better staffing of nurses reduced the number of patient deaths.

Every extra patient added to a nurse's workload increases the risk of death within a month of surgery by 7%, according to data from 300 European hospitals in the nine countries.

The situation is made worse by employing poorly qualified nurses, the research showed.

When nurses had university degrees, this went a long way towards making up for reduced staffing levels.

A 10% increase in the proportion of nurses holding a bachelor degree was associated with 7% lower surgical death rates.

Ireland had a patient-to-nurse ratio of 6.9 to one, Norway had 5.2, the Netherlands 7.0, Finland and Sweden 7.6, and England 9.0.

US expert Professor Linda Aiken, from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, who led the research, said: "Our findings emphasise the risk to patients that could emerge in response to nurse staffing cuts under recent austerity measures, and suggest that an increased emphasis on bachelor's education for nurses could reduce hospital deaths."

The study, which also included researchers from Dublin City University, analysed information on more than 420,000 patients admitted to hospitals in Ireland, Belgium, England, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Read full article in the Lancet here

View press release on RTE/Health here

Involving patients in their nurses’ shift change reduces errors and improves patient satisfaction

At shift change, incoming and outgoing nurses transfer accountability by exchanging information about the patients under their charge. Called bedside handover, this process empowers patients and allows them to become active partners in their own care.  

New research published shows that performing this transfer at the patient’s bedside can also reduce potential errors. 

The findings, published in the Journal of Nursing Care Quality, comprised of qualitative interviews with 45 patients, this research builds on Dr. Jeffs’ ongoing study of transitions across the health care system. Study participants described bedside handover as engaging, personal and informative but indicated the importance of recognizing and being sensitive to patients’ preferences – which can change over time and from patient to patient.

“Most patients felt safer, more satisfied and better informed of their care plan,” said Dr. Jeffs, “But some long-term patients did not want to participate in the twice-daily routine because their conditions had not changed from day to day.”

View press release here

Journal Reference:

Lianne Jeffs, Susan Beswick, Ashley Acott, Elisa Simpson, Roberta Cardoso, Heather Campbell, Terri Irwin. Patientsʼ Views on Bedside Nursing Handover. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 2013; : 1 DOI:10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000035

NUI Galway promotes Worldwide Stop Pressure Ulcer Day

NUI Galway researchers Professor Caroline McIntosh and Dr Georgina Gethin are linking up with the Western Branch of the Wound Management Association of Ireland, UCHG, Community nursing services HSE West to raise awareness of pressure ulcers and their prevention. As part of ‘Worldwide Stop Pressure Ulcer Day’ on Thursday, 21 November, information sessions and workshops will be available in Áras Moyola, NUI Galway from 1-2pm and in the foyer of UCHG all day.

Students of NUI Galway’s School of Nursing and Midwifery and Discipline of Podiatry along with the Wound Management Association of Ireland western branch have been awarded a grant from EXPLORE grant scheme in NUI Galway to develop information leaflets for patients, families and carers to raise awareness and help in prevention. This project will run over the next year and will be of strategic importance as it engages future generations of health professionals, researchers, and voluntary organisations and will tap into the creativity and enthusiasm of these students for the benefit of all.

View more information here

NUI Galway Trials Innovative Falls Detection System for Elderly Fallers

NUI Galway is testing a wearable sensor and home wireless network to detect falls in the elderly, as part of a €2.25 million EU project called FATE. The project is actively recruiting participants aged 64 and over to test the system in their own homes.

The FATE system is made up of a highly sensitive, portable fall detector, a wireless home network and a smart phone. The portable fall detector incorporates accelerometers which are capable of running complex falls detection algorithms. Unique features of this system include a bed sensor for night-time monitoring and the ability to monitor falls even outside the home.

The FATE - FAll deTector for the Elderly is an EU Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) funded project involving 10 partners across Europe including a multidisciplinary team from NUI Galway, Electrical & Electronic Engineering, Physiology, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Gerontology and Podiatry. 

Professor Gearóid Ó Laighin, Professor of Electronic Engineering at NUI Galway and FATE Principal Investigator for NUI Galway says “one of the key issues with falls in the elderly is the so called “long lie” where fallers remain on the floor for more hours after the fall due to lack of detection. This system has the potential to significantly reduce the incidence of undetected falls and drastically improve outcomes after a fall”.

Click here to read the full article

For more information visit www.fate.upc.edu