title: Relationships among nurse staffing, adherence to practice guidelines, and patient outcomes in the treatment of hypoglycemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite a growing body of research that suggests a relationship between nurse staffing and patient outcomes, little is known about the mediators of this relationship. Understanding the unique contribution of nursing in achieving patient outcomes is important for policy recommendations and quality improvement initiatives.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship of registered nurse (RN) staffing and RN adherence to practice guidelines as a possible mediator of the nurse staffing-patient outcome relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, correlational design was used to examine the relationships among nurse staffing, nurse adherence to practice guidelines, and patient outcomes in the treatment of hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adherence to practice guidelines was low. Nurse staffing was not found to be related to RN adherence to practice guidelines in the treatment of hypoglycemia. Skill mix at 1 study hospital was found to be related to total number of hypoglycemic episodes. Notification of the physician was significantly related to a subsequent change in medication.
authors.affiliation: McAuley School of Nursing, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, Michigan, USA. anthonmj@udmercy.edu
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anthony
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007297:Inpatients; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic