Massachusetts nurse staffing regs did not reduce patient mortality, complications

Editor's Note

The Massachusetts state regulation of 1:1 or 2:1 patient-to-nurse staffing ratios in intensive care units (ICUs), as guided by patient complexity scores, was not linked with either increased nurse staffing or changes in patient outcomes, this study finds.

Examining records from 246 medical centers nationwide, and comparing patient outcomes in 6 academic medical centers in Massachusetts with outcomes in 114 out-of-state academic ICUs, researchers found only modest increases in ICU nurse staffing ratios in Massachusetts before and after the mandate was implemented, a change from 1.38 to 1.28 patients per nurse.

This increase was not significantly higher than staffing trends in states without state-mandated regulations, suggesting the increases in Massachusetts could not be attributed to the state regulation.

The risk of mortality and complications in Massachusetts also remained the same after the law’s implementation, with no significant difference in trends compared with out-of-state medical centers.

Though the regulations were intended to ensure patient safety, they were not associated with improved patient outcomes, the authors note.