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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 4 of 4 Research Studies DisplayedSimpson KR, Spetz J, Gay CL
Hospital characteristics associated with nurse staffing during labor and birth: Inequities for the most vulnerable maternity patients.
The objective of this study was to estimate the relationship between hospital characteristics and adherence with Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses nurse staffing guidelines. Registered nurses were enrolled in a cross-sectional survey; hospital characteristics were obtained from the 2018 American Hospital Association Annual Survey. The findings indicated that, overall, nurses reported strong adherence to staffing guidelines within their hospitals. Higher birth volume, teaching status, higher percentage of Medicaid-paid births, and presence of a neonatal intensive care unit were all associated with lower mean adherence scores.
AHRQ-funded; HS025715.
Citation: Simpson KR, Spetz J, Gay CL .
Hospital characteristics associated with nurse staffing during labor and birth: Inequities for the most vulnerable maternity patients.
Nurs Outlook 2023 May; 71(3):101960. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2023.101960..
Keywords: Hospitals, Maternal Care, Provider: Nurse, Workforce, Vulnerable Populations
Zhong J, Simpson KR, Spetz J
Linking patient safety climate with missed nursing care in labor and delivery units: findings from the LaborRNs Survey.
The objective of this study was to explore the association of nurses' perceptions of patient safety climate with missed nursing care in labor and delivery (L&D) units. Nurse respondents were recruited via email distribution of an electronic survey; hospitals with L&D units were recruited from states with projected availability of 2018 state inpatient data. Measures included the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire Safety Climate Subscale and the Perinatal Missed Care Survey. The results suggested that improving safety climate through means such as better teamwork and communication may improve nursing care quality during labor and birth through decreasing missed nursing care. Strategies to reduce missed care may also conversely improve the safety climate.
AHRQ-funded; HS025715.
Citation: Zhong J, Simpson KR, Spetz J .
Linking patient safety climate with missed nursing care in labor and delivery units: findings from the LaborRNs Survey.
J Patient Saf 2023 Apr 1;19(3):166-72. doi: 10.1097/pts.0000000000001106.
Keywords: Maternal Care, Pregnancy, Labor and Delivery, Nursing, Patient Safety, Provider: Nurse
Haidari E, Main EK, Cui X
Maternal and neonatal health care worker well-being and patient safety climate amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The purpose of this study was to assess the perspectives of maternal and neonatal healthcare workers (HCWs) on well-being and patient safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Using HCW surveys, findings showed that 66% of respondents reported symptoms of burnout and 73% felt that burnout among their co-workers had significantly increased. Compared to physicians, nurses reported higher rates of unprofessional behavior and difficulty focusing on work. The authors concluded that three months into the COVID-19 pandemic, HCW well-being was substantially compromised, with negative ramifications for patient safety.
AHRQ-funded; HS027837.
Citation: Haidari E, Main EK, Cui X .
Maternal and neonatal health care worker well-being and patient safety climate amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
J Perinatol 2021 May;41(5):961-69. doi: 10.1038/s41372-021-01014-9..
Keywords: COVID-19, Burnout, Patient Safety, Provider: Nurse, Provider: Health Personnel, Maternal Care
Simpson KR, Lyndon A, Spetz J
Adherence to the AWHONN staffing guidelines as perceived by labor nurses.
Labor and delivery nurses were surveyed to determine if their units adhere to Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) staffing guidelines. Labor nurses in selected hospitals in California, Michigan and New Jersey were invited via email to participate in the study. Their nurse leaders facilitated the invitations. A total of 615 labor nurses from 67 hospitals participated. Most nurses did report that staffing guidelines were adhered to. The hospitals with smaller annual birth volumes (500-999 range) were significantly more like to be perceived as compliant than hospitals with 2,500 or more annual births.
AHRQ-funded; HS025715.
Citation: Simpson KR, Lyndon A, Spetz J .
Adherence to the AWHONN staffing guidelines as perceived by labor nurses.
Nurs Womens Health 2019 Jun;23(3):217-23. doi: 10.1016/j.nwh.2019.03.003..
Keywords: Care Management, Guidelines, Labor and Delivery, Maternal Care, Patient Safety, Pregnancy, Provider, Provider: Nurse, Women