Nurses' working conditions: implications for infectious disease.
Staffing patterns and nurses' working conditions are risk factors for healthcare-associated infections as well as occupational injuries and infections. Staffing shortages, especially of nurses, have been identified as one of the major factors expected to constrain hospitals' ability to deal with future outbreaks of emerging infections. These problems are compounded by a global nursing shortage. Understanding and improving nurses' working conditions can potentially decrease the incidence of many infectious diseases. Relevant research is reviewed, and policy options are discussed.
Stone
Patricia W
PW
Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, New York 10032, USA. Ps2024@columbia.edu
Clarke
Sean P
SP
Cimiotti
Jeannie
J
Correa-de-Araujo
Rosaly
R
D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D009726:Nurses / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D012307:Risk Factors