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Staffing for Safe and Effective Care

Use this guide to find information resources and evidence about nursing staffing levels for safe and effective care including RCN publications, key resources and journal articles.

Last updated: 17/09/2024

RCN Publications

Publication cover Hadden C and Tse J (2024) Corridor care: unsafe, undignified, unacceptable: the impact on patients and staff of providing care in corridors and other inappropriate areas. London: RCN.
RCN: Safe nurse-to-patient ratios: setting limits on the maximum number of patients per registered nurse in every UK health care setting.
RCN: Unsustainable pressures
  • This resource is designed to support RCN members both in delivering safe and effective care and with the difficult decisions they make every day. These decisions often relate to the type of care provided, how it is provided and who it is provided to, and can have wider implications on the delivery of health and social care services.
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RCN: The RCN's position on registered nurse substitution.
Publication cover 天美传媒 (2024) Staffing for safe and effective care: a health and safety representative鈥檚 resource.
Research by Design (2023) Last shift survey 2022: qualitative report prepared for the 天美传媒.
Publication cover Tamburello H (2023) Impact of staffing levels on safe and effective patient care: literature review. London: RCN.
Publication cover Castro-Ayala A, Borneo A, Hayford E, Holden J, Maynard E, Stainton R, Taylor E and Tse J (2022) Investing in patient safety and outcomes: health and care nursing workforce and supply in England. London: RCN.
Publication cover 天美传媒 (2022) UK staffing for safe and effective care: state of the nation's nursing labour market: RCN biannual report February 2022. London: RCN. 
Publication cover Castro-Ayala A, Borneo A, Hayford E, Holden J, Maynard E, Stainton R, Taylor E and Tse J (2022) UK nursing under unsustainable pressures: staffing for safe and effective care in the UK. London: RCN.
Publication cover 天美传媒 Wales (2022) Position paper. Ward manager project: the importance of being supernumerary. Cardiff: RCN.  
Publication cover 天美传媒 (2021) Nursing workforce standards: supporting a safe and effective nursing workforce . London: RCN.
  • The first national blueprint for tackling the nursing staff shortage levels across the UK. They set the standard for excellent patient care and nursing support in all settings, and all UK countries.
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Royal College of Physicians, 天美传媒, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and NHS England (2021) Modern ward rounds.
Publication cover 天美传媒 (2019) Staffing for safe and effective care in England. Member briefing. London: RCN.
Publication cover Borneo A and Hadden C (2019) Standing up for patient and public safety: England policy report, London: RCN.
天美传媒 (2017) Safe and effective staffing: nursing against the odds, London: RCN. 天美传媒 (2017) Safe and effective staffing: nursing against the odds, London: RCN.
天美传媒 (2017) Safe and effective staffing: the real picture. UK policy report, London: RCN. 天美传媒 (2017) Safe and effective staffing: the real picture. UK policy report, London: RCN.
天美传媒 (2015) Registered nurses and health care support workers: a summary of RCN policy positions, London: RCN. 天美传媒 (2015) Registered nurses and health care support workers: a summary of RCN policy positions, London: RCN.
天美传媒 Policy and International Department (2012) Mandatory nurse staffing levels, (Policy briefing 03/12), London: RCN. 天美传媒 Policy and International Department (2012) Mandatory nurse staffing levels, (Policy briefing 03/12), London: RCN.
天美传媒 Policy Unit (2006) Setting appropriate nurse staffing levels in NHS Acute Trusts (Policy guidance 15/2006), London: RCN. 天美传媒 Policy Unit (2006) Setting appropriate nurse staffing levels in NHS Acute Trusts (Policy guidance 15/2006), London: RCN.

Legislation and guidance

National Assembly for Wales (2016) Nurse staffing levels (Wales) Act 2016, Cardiff: NAW.
天美传媒 Wales (2022) Progress and challenge in delivering safe and effective care 2022: how NHS Wales has implemented the nurse staffing levels (Wales) Act 2016. Cardiff: RCN.
天美传媒 Wales (2018) An act of compassion: the story of the RCN Wales campaign for the first nurse staffing law in Europe, Cardiff: RCN Wales.

Reviews and reports

These reviews and reports discuss standards of care and staffing levels.
Buchan J, Ball J, Shembavnekar N, Charlesworth A (2020) Building the NHS nursing workforce in England. London: The Health Foundation.
Cordeiro R, Kirwan M, Harvey C, Rengel-Diaz C, Fuster Linares M and Riklikiene O (2020) Promoting patient safety through minimising missed nursing care: a recommended good practice guidance for nurse managers. Cost Action RANCARE.
Griffiths P, Saville C, Ball J E, Chable R, Dimech A, Jones J, Jeffrey Y, Pattison N, Saucedo A R, Sinden N and Monks T (2020) The Safer Nursing Care Tool as a guide to nurse staffing requirements on hospital wards: observational and modelling study. Southampton: NIHR Journals Library.
Sworn K and Booth A (2019) Scoping review: patient safety outcomes and nursing skill mix interventions. Sheffield: ScHARR, University of Sheffield.
  • A scoping review emerging from the RCN strategic alliance with the University of Sheffield.
Ball J, Barker H, Burton C, Crouch R, Griffith P, Jones J, Lawless J, Rycroft Malone J (2019) Implementation, impact and costs of policies for safe staffing in acute trusts, (no place): University of Southampton.
Saudi Patient Safety Center and International Council of Nurses (2019) Nurse staffing levels for patient safety and workforce safety. SPSC and ICN White Paper. Riyadh.
Griffiths P, Ball J, Bloor K, B枚hning D, Briggs J, Dall鈥橭ra C, and others (2018) Nurse staffing levels, missed vital signs and mortality in hospitals: retrospective longitudinal observational study, Health Services and Delivery Research, 6(38).
Francis R (Chair) (2013) The Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry: final report, London: Stationery Office.
Andrews J and Butler M (2014) Trusted to care: an independent review of the Princess of Wales Hospital and Neath Port Talbot Hospital at Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board. Cardiff: Welsh Government.
Berwick D and National Advisory Group on the Safety of Patients in England (2013) A promise to learn: a commitment to act. Improving the safety of patients in England, London: Department of Health.
Cookson G and McGovern A (2014) The cost-effectiveness of nurse staffing and skill mix on nurse sensitive outcomes. A report for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, (no place) University of Surrey.
International Council of Nurses (2009) Evidence-based safe nurse staffing.

Journal articles

These resources provide evidence and research findings around nursing staffing levels.
Drennan J, Murphy A, McCarthy V J C, Ball J, Duffield C, Crouch R, Kelly G, Loughnane C, Murphy A, Hegarty J, Brady N, Scott A and Griffiths P (2024) The association between nurse staffing and quality of care in emergency departments: A systematic review, International Journal of Nursing Studies, 153, 104706.
Griffiths P, Saville C, Ball J, Dall鈥橭ra C, Meredith P, Turner L and Jones J (2023) Costs and cost-effectiveness of improved nurse staffing levels and skill mix in acute hospitals: A systematic review, International Journal of Nursing Studies, 147, 104601.
Dall鈥橭ra C, Saville C, Rubbo B, Turner L, Jones J and Griffiths P (2022) Nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes: A systematic review of longitudinal studies, International Journal of Nursing Studies, 134, p. 104311.
Dierkes A, Do D, Morin H, Rochman M, Sloane D and McHugh M (2022) The impact of California鈥檚 staffing mandate and the economic recession on registered nurse staffing levels: A longitudinal analysis, Nursing Outlook, 70(2), pp. 219鈥227.
McHugh M D, Aiken L H, Sloane D M, Windsor C, Douglas C and Yates P (2021) Effects of nurse-to-patient ratio legislation on nurse staffing and patient mortality, readmissions, and length of stay: a prospective study in a panel of hospitals, The Lancet, 397(10288), pp. 1905鈥1913.
Senek M, Robertson S, Taylor B, Wood E, King R and Ryan T (2022) Consequences of understaffing on type of missed community care- a cross-sectional study, International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 4, 100075.
  • The project was funded by the 天美传媒 (RCN) as part of the Strategic Research Alliance (SRA) between the RCN and the University of Sheffield.
Zaranko B, Sanford N J, Kelly E, Rafferty A M, Bird J, Mercuri L, Sigsworth J, Wells M and Propper C (2022) Nurse staffing and inpatient mortality in the English National Health Service: a retrospective longitudinal study, BMJ Quality & Safety. doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2022-015291.
Blatter C, Hamilton P, Bachnick S, Z煤帽iga F, Ausserhofer D, Simon M and Consortium for the R (2021) Strengthening tRansparent reporting of reseArch on uNfinished nursing CARE: The RANCARE guideline, Research in Nursing and Health, 44(2), pp. 344鈥352.
Clemens S, Wodchis W, McGilton K, McGrail K and McMahon M (2021) The relationship between quality and staffing in long-term care: A systematic review of the literature 2008–2020, International Journal of Nursing Studies, 122, 104036. 
Senek M, Robertson S, Ryan T, Tod A, King R, Wood E and Taylor B (2021) Missed care in community and primary care, Primary Health Care, 31(3), pp. 20鈥23.
  • The project was funded by the 天美传媒 (RCN) as part of the Strategic Research Alliance (SRA) between the RCN and the University of Sheffield.
Musy S N, Endrich O, Leichtle A B, Griffiths P, Nakas C T and Simon M (2021) The association between nurse staffing and inpatient mortality: A shift-level retrospective longitudinal study, International Journal of Nursing Studies, 12, 103950. 
Emmanuel T, Dall鈥橭ra C, Ewings S and Griffiths P (2020) Are long shifts, overtime and staffing levels associated with nurses鈥 opportunity for educational activities, communication and continuity of care assignments? A cross-sectional study, International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances. p. 100002.
Griffiths P, Saville C, Ball J, Jones J, Pattison N and Monks T (2020) Nursing workload, nurse staffing methodologies and tools: A systematic scoping review and discussion. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 103, p. 103487
Senek M, Robertson S, Ryan T, Sworn K, King R, Wood E and Tod A (2020) Nursing care left undone in community settings: results from a UK cross鈥恠ectional survey, Journal of Nursing Management, 28(8), pp. 1968鈥1974.
  • The project was funded by the 天美传媒 (RCN) as part of the Strategic Research Alliance (SRA) between the RCN and the University of Sheffield.
Griffiths P, Saville C, Ball J, Culliford D, Pattison N and Monks T (2020) Performance of the Safer Nursing Care Tool to measure nurse staffing requirements in acute hospitals: a multicentre observational study, BMJ Open, 10(5), p. e035828.
Sworn K and Booth A (2020) A systematic review of the impact of 鈥榤issed care鈥 in primary, community and nursing home settings, Journal of Nursing Management, 28(8), pp. 1805鈥1829.
  • The project was funded by the 天美传媒 (RCN) as part of the Strategic Research Alliance between the RCN and the University of Sheffield
Senek M, Robertson Steven, Ryan T, King R, Wood E, Taylor B and Tod A (2020) Determinants of nurse job dissatisfaction - findings from a cross-sectional survey analysis in the UK, BMC Nursing, 19(1), p. 88.
  • The project was funded by the 天美传媒 (RCN) as part of the Strategic Research Alliance (SRA) between the RCN and the University of Sheffield.
Senek M, Robertson Steve, Ryan T, King R, Wood E and Tod A (2020) The association between care left undone and temporary nursing staff ratios in acute settings: a cross- sectional survey of registered nurses, BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), p. 637.
  • The project was funded by the 天美传媒 (RCN) as part of the Strategic Research Alliance (SRA) between the RCN and the University of Sheffield.
Griffiths P, Maruotti A, Recio Saucedo A, Redfern O C, Ball J E, Briggs J, Dall鈥橭ra C, Schmidt P E, Smith G B and Missed Care Study Group (2019) Nurse staffing, nursing assistants and hospital mortality: retrospective longitudinal cohort study, BMJ Quality and Safety, 28(8), pp. 609鈥617.
Saville C E, Griffiths P, Ball J E and Monks T (2019) How many nurses do we need? A review and discussion of operational research techniques applied to nurse staffing, International Journal of Nursing Studies. pp. 7鈥13.
Aiken LH, Sloane DM, Ball J, Bruyneel L, Rafferty AM, Griffiths P (2018) Patient satisfaction with hospital care and nurses in England: an observational study, BMJ Open, 8.
Ball JE, Bruyneel L, Aiken LH and others (2017) Post-operative mortality, missed care and nurse staffing in nine countries: a cross-sectional study, International Journal of Nursing Studies.
Ball JE (2017) Nurse staffing levels, care left undone and patient mortality in acute hospitals, PhD thesis, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Karolinksa Institutet.
Aiken LH, Sloane D, Griffiths P and others (2016) Nursing skill mix in European hospitals: cross-sectional study of the association with mortality, patient ratings, and quality of care, BMJ Quality and Safety, Published online first: 15 November 2016.
Griffiths P, Ball J, Drennan J, Dall鈥檕ra C, Jones J, Maruotti A, Pope C, Recio Saucedo A and Simon M (2016) Nurse staffing and patient outcomes: strengths and limitations of the evidence to inform policy and practice. A review and discussion paper based on evidence reviewed for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence safe staffing guideline development, International Journal of Nursing Studies, 63, pp. 213鈥225.
Griffiths P, Ball J, Murrells T, Jones S and Rafferty A (2016) Registered nurse, healthcare support worker, medical staffing levels and mortality in English hospital trusts: a cross-sectional study, BMJ Open, 6.
Aiken LH, Sloane DM, Bruyneel L, van dH, Griffiths P, Busse R and others (2014) Nurse staffing and education and hospital mortality in nine European countries: a retrospective observational study, Lancet, 383 (9931), pp.1824-30.
Ball JE, Murrells T, Rafferty AM, Morrow E and Griffiths P (2014) 'Care left undone’ during nursing shifts: associations with workload and perceived quality of care, BMJ Quality and Safety, 23, pp.116-125.
Barton N (2013) Acuity-based staffing: balance cost, satisfaction, quality, and outcomes, Nurse Leader, 11(6), pp. 47-50, 64.
North N, Leung W, Ashton T, Rasmussen E, Hughes F and Finlayson M (2013) Nurse turnover in New Zealand: costs and relationships with staffing practises and patient outcomes, Journal of Nursing Management, 21(3), pp.419-428.
Hurst K and Smith A (2011) Temporary nursing staff: cost and quality issues, Journal of Advanced Nursing, 67(2), pp.287-296.
Needleman J, Buerhaus P, Pankratz VS, Leibson CL, Stevens SR and Harris M (2011) Nurse staffing and inpatient hospital mortality, New England Journal of Medicine, 364 (11), pp.1037-1045.
Dall TM, Chen YK, Seifert RF, Maddox, PJ and Hogan PF (2009) The economic value of professional nursing, Medical Care, 47(1), pp.97-104.
Newbold D (2008) The production economics of nursing: a discussion paper, International Journal of Nursing Studies, 45(1), pp.120-128.
Unruh L (2008) Nurse staffing and patient, nurse, and financial outcomes, American Journal of Nursing, 108(1), pp.62-72
Kane RL, Shamliyan TA, Mueller C, Duval S, and Wilt TJ (2007) The association of registered nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis, Medical Care, 45 (12), pp.1195-1204.
Rafferty AM, Clarke SP, Coles J, Ball J, James P, McKee M and Aiken LH (2007) Outcomes of variation in hospital nurse staffing in English hospitals: cross-sectional analysis of survey data and discharge records, International Journal of Nursing Studies, 44 (2), pp.175-182.
Needleman J, Buerhaus, PI, Stewart M Zelevinsky K and Mattke S (2006) Nurse staffing in hospitals: is there a business case for quality? Health Affairs, 25(1), pp.204-211.
Pearson A, Pallas, L O, Thomson D, Doucette E, Tucker D, Wiechula R, Long L, Porrit, K and Jordan Z (2006) Systematic review of evidence on the impact of nursing workload and staffing on establishing healthy work environments, International Journal of Evidence-Based Healthcare, 4, pp.337鈥384.
Spetz J (2005) The cost and cost-effectiveness of nursing services in health care. Nursing Outlook, 53(6), pp.305-309.
Cho S, Ketefian S, Barkauskas VH, and Smith DG (2003) The effects of nurse staffing on adverse events, morbidity, mortality, and medical costs, Nursing Research, 52(2), pp.71-79.
Aiken LH, Clarke SP, Sloane DM, Sochalski J and Silber JH (2002) Hospital nurse staffing and patient mortality, nurse burnout, and job dissatisfaction, JAMA, 288 (16) pp.1987-1993.
Needleman J, Buerhaus P, Mattke S, Stewart M and Zelevinsky K (2002) Nurse-staffing levels and the quality of care in hospitals, New England Journal of Medicine, 346 (22), pp.1715-1722.
RCN library staff

Caroline Lynch

Editor of this guide

RCN Library and Museum

Page last updated - 17/09/2024