title: Nurse staffing levels and teamwork: a cross-sectional study of patient care units in acute care hospitals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if nurse staffing predicts teamwork.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, descriptive design with a sample of nursing staff (N = 2,545) on 52 patient care units in four hospitals was utilized.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Nursing Teamwork Survey was utilized to collect data on the level of perceived nursing teamwork on each of the study units. In addition, nursing staffing data were collected for each study unit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher levels of nurse staffing were related to better teamwork. Specifically, the greater the hours per patient day, the higher the level of overall teamwork on the unit (β = 0.417, p = .033). Also the greater the skill mix, the higher the level of overall teamwork on the unit (β = 0.436, p = .009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adequate levels of staffing are needed to ensure nursing teamwork.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ability to provide quality and safe care is associated with teamwork, which in turn requires adequate staffing.
authors.affiliation: Rho, Titus Distinguished Professor of Nursing and Director, Nursing Business and Health Systems, University of Michigan, School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. bkalisch@umich.edu
authors.forename: Beatrice J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kalisch
authors.forename: Kyung Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D015146:Midwestern United States; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires