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/lp/emerald-publishing/nursing-staff-and-patients-length-of-stay-06RWcL0Dx5
- Publisher
- Emerald Publishing
- Copyright
- Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
- ISSN
- 0952-6862
- DOI
- 10.1108/IJHCQA-09-2018-0215
- Publisher site
- See Article on Publisher Site
Abstract
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of nurse staffing, nurse education and work experience on patients’ length of stay (LOS) in the Greek public hospitals.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study, with retrospective administrative data, was implemented. From all seven Regional Health Authorities of Greece, 25 general surgical units in 17 public hospitals participated in the study.FindingsAll over the hospitals were studied, 32,287 patients ⩾17 years old and 203 nursing staff, who were working in the study units, were included in the analysis. According to the multivariate linear regression model, increased years of experience as a nurse (b= −0.04, 95% CI= −0.06 to −0.02, p=0.001) and increased percentage of registered nurse to the total nursing staff (b= −1.18, CI= −1.88 to −0.47, p=0.03) were associated with decreased patient LOS.Originality/valueThis was the first extended study in Greece, which explored the relationship between nurse staffing, nurse education, work experience and the LOS. The role that nurse staffing play together with its characteristics in the provision toward the quality healthcare services has already been recognized worldwide. The findings revealed the great shortage of nursing staff and the significant correlation between the work experience and educational level to patients’ LOS.
Journal
International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance – Emerald Publishing
Published: Jul 8, 2019