Changes in Nurse Staffing Grades of Korean Hospitals during COVID-19 Pandemic.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
; 18(11)2021 May 31.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34072829
ABSTRACT
The global COVID-19 pandemic is creating challenges to manage staff ratios in clinical units. Nurse staffing level is an important indicator of the quality of care. This study aimed to identify any changes in the nurse staffing levels in the general wards of hospitals in Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic. The unit of analysis was the hospitals. This longitudinal study observed the quarterly change of the nurse staffing grades in 969 hospitals in 2020. The nurse staffing grades ranged from 1 to 7 according to the nurse-patient ratio measured by the number of patients (or beds) per nurse. The major dependent and independent variables were the change of nurse staffing grades and three quarterly observation points being compared with those during the 1st quarter (1Q) of 2020, respectively. A generalized linear model was used. Unexpectedly, the nurse staffing grades significantly improved (2Q RR, 27.2%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 15.1-27.6; p < 0.001; 3Q RR, 95% CI, 20.2%; 16.9-21.6; p < 0.001; 4Q RR, 26.6%; 95% CI, 17.8-39.6; p < 0.001) quarterly, indicating that the nurse staffing levels increased. In the comparison of grades at 2Q, 3Q, and 4Q with those at 1Q, most figures improved in tertiary, general, and small hospitals (p < 0.05), except at 3Q and 4Q of general hospitals. In conclusion, the nurse staffing levels did not decrease, but nursing shortage might occur.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
COVID-19
/
Recursos Humanos de Enfermagem Hospitalar
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Environ Res Public Health
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article