Table 2.
Sample Characteristics (N = 1,892)
| Mean | SD | |
|---|---|---|
| Staffing variables | ||
| RN nonovertime staffing* | 5.0 | 0.8 |
| Non-RN nonovertime staffing* | 3.8 | 0.7 |
| RN overtime staffing* | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Non-RN overtime staffing* | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Discharge process variables | ||
| Quality of Discharge Teaching Scale (QDTS): | ||
| “Content received” subscale (0–10†) | 5.0 | 2.7 |
| “Delivery” subscale (0–10†) | 7.8 | 2.1 |
| Outcome variables | ||
| Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS) (0–10†) | 8.0 | 1.4 |
| n | % | |
|---|---|---|
| ED visits only (unplanned/related) | 80 | 4.2 |
| Readmission (unplanned/related) | 183 | 9.7 |
| Any unplanned/related postdischarge occurrence (ED or readmission) | 263 | 13.9 |
| Mean | SD | |
|---|---|---|
| Unit control variables | ||
| Admission–discharge ratio | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| RN vacancy rate | 10.3 | 8.1 |
| Patient control variables | ||
| QDTS | 4.0 | 2.6 |
| “Content needed” subscale (0–10†) | ||
| Age (range 18–102) | 58.2 | 16.8 |
| Socioeconomic status‡ (8–66†) | 36.9 | 13.1 |
| Length of stay (range 1–46) | 4.3 | 3.8 |
| n | % | |
|---|---|---|
| Sex: male | 856 | 45.2 |
| Race: | ||
| White | 1486 | 80.4 |
| Black | 247 | 13.4 |
| Hispanic | 78 | 4.2 |
| Other | 38 | 2.0 |
| Prior hospitalization for same condition | 796 | 42.1 |
| Transition coordination§ | 679 | 35.9 |
| Severity of illness: | ||
| 1 (minor) | 456 | 24.1 |
| 2 (moderate) | 776 | 41.0 |
| 3 (major) | 548 | 29.0 |
| 4 (extreme) | 112 | 5.9 |
| Medical type (nonsurgical) admission | 843 | 44.6 |
| Lives alone | 448 | 26.2 |
*
Measured in hours-per-patient day.
†
Theoretical and actual range of scores.
‡
Socioeconomic status—Hollingshead Four Factor Index of Social Status.
§
Transition coordination includes case manager, care coordinator, community services assessment and/or referral, home health referral.