Higher Quality of Care and Patient Safety Associated With Better NICU Work Environments.
The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) work environment, quality of care, safety, and patient outcomes. A secondary analysis was conducted of responses of 1247 NICU staff nurses in 171 hospitals to a large nurse survey. Better work environments were associated with lower odds of nurses reporting poor quality, safety, and outcomes. Improving the work environment may be a promising strategy to achieve safer settings for at-risk newborns.
Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Drs Lake, Hallowell, Kutney-Lee, Hatfield, and Aiken), Pennsylvania Hospital (Dr Hatfield and Mss Ellis, Verica, and Del Guidice), Philadelphia; and Weill Cornell Medical Center and Lower Manhattan Hospital, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York (Dr Boxer).
Eileen T
ET
Lake
Sunny G
SG
Hallowell
Ann
A
Kutney-Lee
Linda A
LA
Hatfield
Mary
M
Del Guidice
Bruce Alan
BA
Boxer
Lauren N
LN
Ellis
Lindsey
L
Verica
Linda H
LH
Aiken
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000592:standards; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061214:Patient Safety; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce; D017132:Workplace