Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Doctor of Healthcare Administration (D.H.A.)

School

Business Administration

Advisor

Dr. Rabeh Hijazi

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many nursing homes struggled to meet the needed staffing levels, compromising service delivery in health institutions across the United States. The disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on various health care institutions and staff-patient ratios rejuvenated discussions on the longstanding workforce challenges on quality care and outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate the relationship between registered nurse (RN) staffing hours and COVID-19 deaths in Indiana private and public nursing home residents based on the data obtained in the Care Compare database and Indiana Department of health COVID-19 portals. The independent study variables were RN and licensed practical nurse (LPN) staffing hours in the Indiana nursing home, and the dependent variable was COVID-19 deaths in Indiana nursing homes. Guided by the Donabedian theory, a descriptive and cross-tabulation analysis determined that RN staffing hours per patient per day significantly affected the COVID-19 mortality rate (p = 0.0387), implying that any change in RN staffing hours per patient per day resulted in a change in COVID-19 mortality. However, LPN staffing hours per patient per day had no statistically significant effect on COVID-19 mortality (p = 0.0773). Findings from this study contribute to positive social change by enabling health care administrators to make effective decision-making regarding human resources management, disaster management, and facility management disciplines to enact efficient and effective hiring practices during medical emergencies.

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