A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW EXAMINING THE CORRELATION BETWEEN NURSE STAFFING RATIOS AND QUALITY OF CARE OR PATIENT SAFETY OUTCOMES

Abstract

In healthcare settings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), this systematic review examines the relationship between nurse labor ratios and patient safety or quality of care outcomes. Despite the critical role that adequate nurse staffing plays in assuring patient safety and care quality, there is a substantial disparity in the comprehension of this relationship in the context of KSA. Five studies that satisfied the established criteria were included after a thorough survey of peer-reviewed literature from 2021 to 2024 was conducted across multiple databases. The results indicate a robust correlation between improved nurse staffing levels and improved patient outcomes, emphasizing that low nurse-to-patient ratios are associated with increased rates of adverse events, including patient accidents and pressure injuries. Furthermore, the review suggests that patient safety is substantially influenced by factors such as professional competence and the nursing work environment. The imperative necessity for evidence-based policy interventions to enhance the quality of healthcare in KSA and optimize nurse staffing ratios is emphasized by the evidence presented. In order to improve comprehension and inform policy initiatives, future research should concentrate on further investigating these relationships in a variety of healthcare contexts.