Latest study analyzed patient outcomes at Magnet hospitals
Researchers report that better nurse staffing, education, and work environment partially account for lower mortality and other improved patient outcomes at hospitals certified in the Magnet Recognition Program®, a voluntary program managed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
In an effort to determine if Magnet hospitals attained better patient outcomes, and to pinpoint Magnet hospital characteristics that led to improved outcomes, Matthew D. McHugh, PhD, JD, MPH, RN, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA, and colleagues compared patient outcomes at Magnet hospitals (56) and non-Magnet hospitals (508) in California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey between 2006 and 2007.
The researchers report that, “Magnet hospitals had significantly better work environments and higher proportions of nurses with bachelor’s degrees and specialty certification.” According to study results, the nurse-to-patient staffing ratios were also higher at Magnet hospitals. Furthermore, an examination of over 600,000 surgical patients revealed mortality rates that were 20% lower at Magnet hospitals, after accounting for clinical factors.
The study is published in the May issue of Medical Care.
Source: Wolters Kluwer.
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