Practice Environments and Patient Safety
Research Summaries
CNA is committed to supporting evidence-based health care that maintains patient safety as a priority. We support nurse leaders and employers to address health human resources needs and employ nurses appropriately in health-care environments, from disease prevention and health promotion to acute care, rehabilitation and palliation.
CNA’s research summaries outline studies that:
- were reported in peer-reviewed publications;
- reflect a variety of clinical settings;
- address RNs (may also include other regulated and unregulated nursing personnel);
- are authored by Canadian researchers;
- are international in scope; and
- address outcomes according to clients, nurses and systems.
These research summaries, individually or collectively, contain the message that appropriate nurse staffing has an impact on the sustainability of the health-care system and on patient safety. They will serve as a helpful tool for employers and nurses to understand and apply the research findings.
Download Research Summaries
The summaries are based on research articles from various sources and categorized by title. The source article is cited in each summary.
Download the research summaries into one document
Download the individual research summaries
- A Higher Proportion of RNs and RPNs on Inpatient Units May Result in More Positive Patient Outcomes (Based on McGillis Hall et al., 2003)
- Baccalaureate or Higher Nurse Education Related to Fewer Surgical Patient Deaths (Based on Aiken et al., 2003)
- Collecting Baseline Patient Outcome Data Should Precede Nurse Staffing Changes (Based on Potter et al., 2003)
- Decreasing RN Staffing Levels May Not Result in Expected Cost Savings (Based on Sovie et al., 2001)
- Higher Levels of RN Staffing Are Related to Better Patient Outcomes (Based on Needleman et al., 2002)
- Higher RN Staffing Levels Are Related to Fewer Deaths of Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction (Based on Person et al., 2004)
- How Effective are Nursing Staff Mix and Nurse-To-Patient Ratio Mechanisms in Improving Nurses’ Workloads? (Based on McGillis Hall et al., 2006)
- Inadequate Nurse Staffing and Poor Organizational Support Affect Patient Safety Globally (Based on Aiken et al., 2002)
- Long Working Hours of Hospital RNs Associated With Increased Errors (Based on Rogers et al., 2004)
- Nurse Staffing and Patient Death (Based on Tourangeau et al., 2002)
- Nurse Staffing Model Influences Cost of Nursing Services (Based on McGillis Hall et al., 2004)
- Nurses’ Education Level Can Influence Patient and System Outcomes in Community Home Nursing (Based on O’Brien-Pallas et al., 2001; 2002)
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