The effects of hospitalization on multiple units.
Patients are often cared for on multiple units during the course of a hospitalization. This study used general linear modeling and logistic regression analyses to demonstrate the effect of hospitalization on multiple units upon selected nursing treatments, resource use, and clinical outcomes. Primary medical diagnosis, comorbid medical conditions, and severity of illness were controlled for in the analyses. A significant association was found between hospitalizations on multiple units and selected nursing treatments, resource use, and all clinical outcomes except for mortality. Nurses play a central role in coordinating the care that patients receive across inpatient units and are positioned to develop and implement strategies to mediate the negative impacts associated with patients moving across multiple units.
Kanak
Mary F
MF
College of Nursing, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52241, USA. maryfkanak@aol.com
Titler
Marita
M
Shever
Leah
L
Fei
Qiang
Q
Dochterman
Joanne
J
Picone
Debra M
DM
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000368:Aged; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*