Abstract
Background: International evidence shows that there are organizational
factors and nurse job outcomes that may negatively affect healthcare quality.
Aim: To measure and analyze associations between nurse organizational factors,
such as staffing ratios and skill mix, and job outcomes in public hospitals
in Chile. Material and Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study of
1,855 registered nurses working in medical-surgical units in 37 public hospitals
was conducted. Data collection followed the RN4CAST research protocol.
Inferential analyses used logistic regression models. Results: The survey was
answered by 1,395 registered nurses in 34 hospitals. The average staffing ratio
was 14 patients-per-nurse, and the average skill mix was 31% registered nurses.
Of all nurses, 35% reported burnout, 22% were dissatisfied, and 33% intended
to leave. Being burned out increased by 9 and 6% the odds of being dissatisfied
and the intent to leave, respectively (Odds ratio (OR) 1.09, p < 0.01 and 1.06,
p < 0.01). Being dissatisfied increased by five times the odds of intent to leave
(OR 5.19, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Staffing levels, burnout, and intent to leave
warrant healthcare and governmental authorities’ attention. All these factors
may be threatening healthcare quality and safety.
| Translated title of the contribution | Nurse staffing, skill mix and job outcomes in Chilean public hospitals |
|---|---|
| Original language | Spanish (Chile) |
| Article number | 148 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1444 |
| Number of pages | 1451 |
| Journal | Revista médica de Chile |
| Volume | 148 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2020 |
Keywords
- Burnout, Psychological; Chile; Job Satisfaction; Personnel Turnover.