The effect of nurse staffing patterns on patient satisfaction and needs: a cross-sectional study

Aim: To examine the effect of nurse staffing patterns (nursing staff skill mix and patient classification system) on patient satisfaction with the nursing care received. Background: Evidence about the relationship between the nursing staff structures and patient outcomes in post-transitional countries is limited. Methods: The research was conducted in three units of one secondary-care regional hospital in Slovenia over 1 month. This cross-sectional study used three main data elements exploring nursing staff levels (nursing hours per patient day and skill mix), patient needs (using a classification system), and patients' satisfaction with nursing care; 484 patients participated. Results: Significant positive correlations were found between the patients' satisfaction and the realized percentage of the registered nurse personnel requirements, the level of nursing care hours per patient day, and the proportion of registered nurses in the nursing team. Conclusions: A significant association between the actual and needed staffing levels and patient satisfaction was found. Nurse staffing patterns affect patient outcomes. Implications for Nursing Management: This paper supports a higher proportion of registered nurses and an increased number of overall nursing staff working hours. Managers should consider the results of the patient needs categorization system and the workforce structure characteristics as predictors of patient satisfaction.