Adequate nurse staffing and manageable workload are foundations upon which nurses can undertake timely, safe patient care, including infection control practices (ICP).. Staffing models such as nurse-to-patient ratios (NPR) are a commonly applied approach to ensure safe staffing but their impact on ICP has not been explored. 

To understand nurses’ perceptions of the impact of ratios on ICP

Cross-sectional online survey of nurses on 12 units in Canberra Health Services where a 1:4 NPR had been introduced. Questions were drawn from previous research and reviewed by a panel of infection control experts. Analysis was descriptive.

Nurses who cared for four or fewer patients on their most recent shift completed most ICP tasks in a timely manner, were more likely to provide patient education, and had more time to communicate with the treating team. Some ICP such as hand hygiene or PPE use were not impacted by NPR staffing.

Many ICP were strengthened by staffing that was consistent with the ratio framework. This suggests that NPR staffing had an early and important impact on practice. Contrasting findings for some activities may be explained by priorities developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research will be enhanced with longitudinal or observational approaches. 

This study adds to the limited evidence on NPR, particularly regarding ICP. It used end-user experiences to help understand impacts of early policy implementation within Canberra Health Services. It provides a foundation for future exploration of the specific impact of NPR staffing.

 

Monika Tencic1, Michael A Roche2
 
 

1.     Canberra Health Services, Garran, ACT 2605

University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, 2617