Kazanjian et al conducted a systematic
review of studies linking nursing work environment
characteristics to patient mortality and concluded
that the evidence from 27 studies supported
a link between inpatient mortality and variables
such as autonomy, good nurse/physician relationships,
reasonable workloads, care based on nursing
standards, positive manager attributes, and professional
development opportunities. These characteristics
have been described as forces of magnetism
by Kramer and Schmalenberg.