title: Strengthening hospital nursing.
abstract: Hospitals, nurses, the media, Congress, and the private sector are increasingly concerned about shortages of registered nurses (RNs) and the impact on safety and quality of patient care. Findings from a growing number of studies provide evidence of a relationship between hospital nurse staffing and adverse outcomes experienced by medical and surgical patients. These findings have policy implications for strengthening the nursing profession, monitoring the quality of hospital care associated with nursing, and improving the relationship between hospitals and the nursing profession.
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Peter I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Buerhaus
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Needleman
authors.forename: Soeren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mattke
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D004506:Education, Nursing; D006291:Health Policy; D006280:Health Workforce; D006801:Humans; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D017751:Safety Management; D014146:Training Support / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014481:United States