Nurse shortage cause of deaths - Reports For Romanow - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Community Action, August 19, 2002

OAKBROOK TERRACE, ILL.--Almost one-quarter of patient deaths and injuries in U.S. hospitals can be traced to the country's nursing shortage, says the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. More than 126,000 nursing positions are unfilled, leading to problems such as emergency department overcrowding, cancellation of elective surgeries, discontinuation of clinical services and a limited ability in the health system to respond to any mass casualty incident. Outside of hospitals, 90 per cent of nursing homes report an insufficient number of nurses to provide basic care, said a commission report.

However, the American Hospital Association Vice-President James Bentley said he did not agree with the commission's statement that patient lives are in danger although hospitals should be concerned with the stress and worry experienced by nurses.

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