Nursing worklife characteristics also are
related to the occurrence of less ominous patient
outcomes, such as falls, nosocomial infections, and
medication errors. Sovie and Jawad16 found that
nurse staffing levels were significantly related to
lower patient fall rates, better pain control, and
fewer nosocomial infections. Whitman et al17 also
linked nurse staffing levels to decreased fall rates
and medication error rate in intensive care units.
These outcomes complicate patient progress, have
a negative effect on their well-being, and can lead
to untimely death.