Date of Conferral
2018
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Nursing
Advisor
Leslie Hussey
Abstract
The quality of care in United States' nursing homes has been of concern to consumers, government agencies, and researchers for several decades. Nurse staffing has been identified as a key factor influencing the quality of care in nursing homes. The purpose of this quantitative, correlational research was to determine if relationships existed between nurse staffing levels and three quality care outcomes in the state of Georgia. Donabedian's quality conceptual framework guided the study. The framework encompasses three interrelated dimensions of quality including structure, process, and outcomes. Nurse staffing levels and facility bed size represented the structure of nursing homes and pressure ulcers, falls with major injury, and urinary tract infections each represented facility outcomes. The sample included 348 nursing homes in Georgia. Data was collected from the Nursing Home Compare website. The predictor variables in this study were nurse staffing levels of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, and total nurse staffing levels. The outcome variables were pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, and falls with major injury. A cross sectional design and multiple regressions were used to analyze the relationship between nurse staffing and quality of care outcomes. While the results of the study did not reveal significant relationships between variables, the study nonetheless offers useful insight on how future studies can be enhanced. These findings have implications for social changes as they may help to inform Georgia policy makers in decisions regarding regulations that mandate minimum nurse staffing standards.
Recommended Citation
Stephens, Tamara Kathleen, "The Relationship Between Nurse Staffing and Quality Outcomes in Georgia Nursing Homes" (2018). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 5421.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5421
