Nonlinear association of nurse staffing and readmissions uncovered in machine learning analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Several studies of nurse staffing and patient outcomes found a curvilinear or U-shaped relationship, with benefits from additional nurse staffing diminishing or reversing at high staffing levels. This study examined potential diminishing returns to nurse staffing and the existence of a "tipping point" or the level of staffing after which higher nurse staffing no longer improves and may worsen readmissions.

Data sources/study setting

The Readiness Evaluation And Discharge Interventions (READI) study database of over 130,000 adult (18+) inpatient discharges from 62 medical, surgical, and medical-surgical (noncritical care) units from 31 United States (US) hospitals during October 2014-March 2017.

Study design

Observational cross-sectional study using a fully n

SUBMITTER: Yakusheva O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8928027 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature