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Rural Hospital Nursing Skill Mix And Work Environment Associated With Frequency Of Adverse Events., Jessica G. Smith, Colin M. Plover, Moira C. Mcchesney, Eileen T. Lake

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Introduction: Though rural hospitals serve about one fifth of the United States (U.S.), few studies have investigated relationships among nursing resources and rural hospital adverse events.

Objectives: The purpose was to determine relationships among nursing skill mix (proportion of Registered Nurses (RNs) to all nursing staff), the work environment and adverse events (medication errors, patient falls with injury, pressure ulcers, and urinary tract infections) in rural hospitals.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, nurse survey data from a large study examining nurse organizational factors, patient safety, and quality from four U.S. states were linked to the 2006 American Hospital Association data. …