Higher nurse staffing may help hospitals avoid readmissions penalties, given the important role nurses play in facilitating communication with patients, according to an article in Health Affairs.
Researchers analyzed nurse staffing and readmissions penalties and found hospitals with higher nurse staffing had 25 percent lower odds of being penalized when compared with similar hospitals with fewer nurses.
The study concluded investing in nursing could be a potential method for reducing readmissions, especially considering the major role nursing staff plays in discharge and care coordination, patient education and basic care processes.
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