Nurse Staffing and Quality of Care of Nursing Home Residents in Korea

Juh Hyun Shin, Ta Kyung Hyun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between nurse staffing and quality of care in nursing homes in Korea. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design to describe the relationship between nurse staffing and 15 quality-of-care outcomes. Independent variables were hours per resident day (HPRD), skill mix, and turnover of each nursing staff, developed with the definitions of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the American Health Care Association. Dependent variables were prevalence of residents who experienced more than one fall in the recent 3 months, aggressive behaviors, depression, cognitive decline, pressure sores, incontinence, prescribed antibiotics because of urinary tract infection, weight loss, dehydration, tube feeding, bed rest, increased activities of daily living, decreased range of motion, use of antidepressants, and use of restraints. Outcome variables were quality indicators from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid and 2013 nursing home evaluation manual by the Korean National Health Insurance Service. Findings: The effects of registered nurse (RN) HPRD was supported in fall prevention, decreased tube feeding, decreased numbers of residents with deteriorated range of motion, and decreased aggressive behavior. Higher turnover of RNs related to more residents with dehydration, bed rest, and use of antipsychotic medication. Conclusions: Study results supported RNs' unique contribution to resident outcomes in comparison to alternative nurse staffing in fall prevention, decreased use of tube feeding, better range of motion for residents, and decreased aggressive behaviors in nursing homes in Korea. More research is required to confirm the effects of nurse staffing on residents' outcomes in Korea. Clinical Relevance: We found consistency in the effects of RN staffing on resident outcomes acceptable. By assessing nurse staffing levels and compositions of nursing staffs, this study contributes to more effective long-term care insurance by reflecting on appropriate policies, and ultimately contributes to the stable settlement of the long-term care insurance system for elders.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)555-564
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Nursing Scholarship
Volume47
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Sigma Theta Tau International.

Keywords

  • Nursing home
  • Nursing staffing
  • Quality of care

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