Table 4.
Regression of Length of Stay and Patient Complications on Nurse Staffing Variables, Surgical Patients in 11-State All-Patient, 11-State Medicare Only, and National MedPAR Samples
| 11-State All-Patient | 11-State Medicare Only | National MedPAR | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coefficient | SE | Coefficient | SE | Coefficient | SE | |||
| Length of Stay | ||||||||
| RN Hours/LICENSED Hours | −0.553 | 0.435 | −0.785 | 0.565 | −0.063 | 0.313 | ||
| LICENSED Hours per Patient Day | −0.015 | 0.015 | −0.010 | 0.030 | −0.033 | 0.016* | ||
| Number of Observations | 796 | 793 | 3,296 | |||||
| IRR | IRR | IRR | ||||||
| Urinary Tract Infection | ||||||||
| RN Hours/LICENSED Hours | 0.589 | 0.119** | 0.675 | 0.142 | 0.877 | 0.084 | ||
| LICENSED Hours per Patient Day | 1.006 | 0.008 | 1.003 | 0.008 | 0.991 | 0.003** | ||
| Number of Observations | 795 | 789 | 3,288 | |||||
| Pressure Ulcer | ||||||||
| RN Hours/LICENSED Hours | 0.828 | 0.299 | 0.811 | 0.345 | 0.902 | 0.111 | ||
| LICENSED Hours per Patient Day | 0.981 | 0.011 | 0.967 | 0.012** | 0.986 | 0.004** | ||
| Number of Observations | 788 | 781 | 3,217 | |||||
| Pneumonia | ||||||||
| RN Hours/LICENSED Hours | 0.522 | 0.164* | 0.356 | 0.121** | 0.936 | 0.101 | bb | |
| LICENSED Hours per Patient Day | 1.018 | 0.012 | 1.015 | 0.013 | 0.989 | 0.003** | a | |
| Number of Observations | 796 | 793 | 3,293 | |||||
| Shock/Cardiac Arrest | ||||||||
| RN Hours/LICENSED Hours | 0.595 | 0.205 | 0.420 | 0.161** | 0.589 | 0.086** | ||
| LICENSED Hours per Patient Day | 0.998 | 0.013 | 1.002 | 0.014 | 0.995 | 0.005 | ||
| Number of Observations | 796 | 794 | 3,295 | |||||
| Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding | ||||||||
| RN Hours/LICENSED Hours | 0.528 | 0.191 | 0.404 | 0.171* | 0.769 | 0.109 | ||
| LICENSED Hours per Patient Day | 0.989 | 0.013 | 0.991 | 0.014 | 0.987 | 0.004** | ||
| Number of Observations | 797 | 794 | 3,297 | |||||
| Sepsis | ||||||||
| RN Hours/LICENSED Hours | 1.107 | 0.325 | 0.859 | 0.286 | 1.099 | 0.126 | ||
| LICENSED Hours per Patient Day | 1.006 | 0.011 | 0.986 | 0.012 | 0.985 | 0.003** | ||
| Number of Observations | 796 | 791 | 3,289 | |||||
| Failure to Rescue | ||||||||
| RN Hours/LICENSED Hours | 0.715 | 0.149 | 0.698 | 0.168 | 0.813 | 0.066* | ||
| LICENSED Hours per Patient Day | 0.982 | 0.008* | 0.978 | 0.009* | 0.999 | 0.003 | a | b |
| Number of Observations | 785 | 767 | 3,184 | |||||
| Wound Infection | ||||||||
| RN Hours/LICENSED Hours | 1.327 | 0.407 | 0.929 | 0.351 | 1.908 | 0.292** | ||
| LICENSED Hours per Patient Day | 0.997 | 0.010 | 1.010 | 0.012 | 1.007 | 0.004 | ||
| Number of Observations | 796 | 794 | 3,297 | |||||
| Metabolic Derangement | ||||||||
| RN Hours/LICENSED Hours | 0.492 | 0.162* | 0.538 | 0.161* | 1.045 | 0.122 | a | |
| LICENSED Hours per Patient Day | 0.979 | 0.012 | 0.985 | 0.011 | 0.994 | 0.004 | ||
| Number of Observations | 797 | 790 | 3,283 | |||||
OLS regression coefficients for length of stay and incidence risk ratios (IRRs) for other adverse outcomes, adjusted for expected length of stay or number of expected events, hospital teaching status, metropolitan location, and state. Huber/White/sandwich estimator used to calculate standard errors.
Probability (coefficient=0)
*
p<.05,
**
p<.01,
***
p<.001.
Probability (coefficient=coefficient in 11-state all-patient regression): a p<.05, aa p<.01
Probability (coefficient=coefficient in 11-state Medicare regression): b p<.05, bb p<.01