The Importance Of Nurse Burnout And Patient Satisfaction

There are many studies referencing nursing burnout as it relates to the national nursing shortage. Two research studies confirm the relationship between burnout and job dissatisfaction linking it to its effect on patient outcomes. One documented study conducted by the RWJ Foundation, titled Nurse Burnout and Patient Satisfaction cited:

· 317 shifts were logged over 28 days between 393 RNs

· 360 shifts, nurses reported being mandated to work overtime

· 143 shifts where they were “coerced” to work voluntary overtime

· 199 errors and 213 near errors reported during the data-gathering period

· 58 % of the errors and 56% of the near errors involved medication administration

· 18% were procedural errors, 12% charting errors, and 7% transcription errors

The study indicated a direct relationship between unsafe nursing practice and the number of hours worked in a day; therefore, compromising the safety of patients.

A similar study produced The Aiken Fact sheet by Aiken, Clarke, Sloane, Sochalski, and Silber titled: Hospital Nurse

Unlike other states, North Carolina does not support nurse to patient ratio laws. North Carolina has no clear plan of action to resolve this predicament. Many studies have been conducted to help resolve the nationwide nursing shortage, yet the shortage remains and attempts to recruit new nurses are failing. The 2002 study that preceded the 2004 California mandate to change nurse to patient ratios by Aiken et al titled: Hospital nurse staffing and patient mortality, nurse burnout, and job dissatisfaction. The study was published in 2002 by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and hospitals in 3 states were researched. The results of the study implemented new standards for nurses. Facilities were forced to reduce the number of patients that a nurse cared for; therefore, improving nursing practice with better patient