Talking Points on RN Staff Ratios

New Jersey Nurse, Jul/Aug 2004

Fact: Ratios Are Cost-Effective

Safe RN ratios will produce cost savings for hospitals in reduced spending on temporary RNs and overtime costs, lower RN turnover, and improved patient outcomes.

Shorter Patient Lengths of Stays-A 2001 Harvard School of Public Health study cites a 3% to 6% shorter length of stay for patients in hospitals with a high percentage of RNs.

Johns Hopkins University researchers found that hospitals with fewer RNs in intensive care units at night incurred a 14% increase in costs. (American Journal of Clinical Care, November, 200).

Hospital across the U.S. spent about $10 billion nationality in 2002 for temporary employees. Hospitals are spending upwards of $1million per month on temporary staffing.

Hospitals spend upwards of $42,000 to replace each general medical and surgical unit RN, and $64,000 to replace specialty RNs such as Critical Care, Emergency and OR nurses.

Improving the work environment for nurses will decrease on-the-job strains, sprains and other injuries suffered by nursing staff.

Lost work time, absenteeism and lower worker compensation costs are associated with improved working conditions for Nurses.

For updates and more information about Improving Nurse Staffing in NJ visit us on the web at www.njsna.org.