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The effect of mode of nursing care delivery and skill mix on quality and patient safety outcomes

University of British Columbia

Aims: This study examined the effect of various components of a model of nursing care delivery, the mode of nursing care delivery and nursing skill mix on (a) quality of nursing care (i.e., nurse reported quality of nursing care and nursing tasks left undone), (b) patient adverse events, and (c) nurse outcomes (i.e., job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion) after controlling for nurse demographic characteristics, work environment and workload factors. This study also explores the moderating effects of mode of nursing care delivery and skill mix on the relationship between workload factors and the five outcome variables. Background: Research into redesigning care delivery has typically focused on only one care delivery component at a time (e.g., skill mix). There exists little research focusing on both components, and controlling for one factor while the other is investigated to determine quality of nursing care delivery and nurse and patient outcomes. Method: This cross-sectional exploratory correlational survey study drew upon secondary data from 416 direct care registered nurses (RNs) from medical-surgical settings. Results: Nurses working in a team-based mode of care delivery reported a greater number of nursing tasks left undone compared to those working in a total patient care mode of delivery. Nurses working in a skill mix with licensed practical nurses (LPNs) reported a higher frequency of patient adverse events compared to those working in a skill mix without LPNs. Two moderating effects were found. At higher levels of acuity, nurses in a team-based mode of care delivery reported a higher frequency of patient adverse events than did nurses in a total patient care mode of delivery. At higher levels of acuity, nurses working in a skill mix with LPNs reported lower levels of emotional exhaustion than nurses in a skill mix without LPNs. Conclusion: Models of nursing care delivery components influenced quality and safety outcomes. Implications: To be effective, a team-based mode of care delivery requires collaborative teamwork. Policy makers, administrators and healthcare providers should work together to clarify and optimize the scopes of practice for RNs and LPNs.

Text

2017-01-21

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/59936

Nursing

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/