Presenter Classification
Undergraduate Student
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Publication Date
4-22-2026
Start Date
22-4-2026 2:30 PM
End Date
22-4-2026 3:00 PM
Keywords
Adult, Medical Surgical, Staffing Ratios, Nurse-to-patient ratios
Abstract Type
Scientific Literature Review
Abstract
Nurse-to-patient ratios in adult medical-surgical floors vary across healthcare settings and have been linked to patient safety and quality outcomes. Nurse-to-patient ratios of 1 to 6 or greater are most common in practice settings, despite the growing evidence that higher nurse workloads are associated with increased mortality, longer length of stay, higher readmission rates, mistakes, and miscommunication in nursing care. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to examine whether applying safer nurse-to-patient ratios, 1 to 4 instead of 1 to 6 or higher, improves patient safety outcomes. Using the Johns Hopkins Evidenced-Based Practice Model, a project was put together a focused literature search that was conducted in PubMed and CINAHL to find recent quality research focused on nurse-to-patient ratios and how they affect patients and their outcomes. These studies were reviewed and assessed for their quality of evidence. Key outcomes reviewed included mortality, length of stays in hospitals, readmissions to hospitals, patient complications, and indicators of safety.
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Nurse-to-Patient Ratios in Adult Medical-Surgical Units
Nurse-to-patient ratios in adult medical-surgical floors vary across healthcare settings and have been linked to patient safety and quality outcomes. Nurse-to-patient ratios of 1 to 6 or greater are most common in practice settings, despite the growing evidence that higher nurse workloads are associated with increased mortality, longer length of stay, higher readmission rates, mistakes, and miscommunication in nursing care. The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to examine whether applying safer nurse-to-patient ratios, 1 to 4 instead of 1 to 6 or higher, improves patient safety outcomes. Using the Johns Hopkins Evidenced-Based Practice Model, a project was put together a focused literature search that was conducted in PubMed and CINAHL to find recent quality research focused on nurse-to-patient ratios and how they affect patients and their outcomes. These studies were reviewed and assessed for their quality of evidence. Key outcomes reviewed included mortality, length of stays in hospitals, readmissions to hospitals, patient complications, and indicators of safety.
