Nurse Staffing and Patient OutcomesDuring a Natural Disaster

This study examined how nurse staffing levels affected patient outcomes during Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey.. Researchers found that many counties had nurse shortages during the disaster. Hospitals with fewer nursing hours per patient had longer hospital stays, higher death rates, and more complications like pressure ulcers and restraint use. The study also showed that unemployed nurses in nearby Pennsylvania could have helped, but state licensing rules prevented them from working across state lines. The authors conclude that expanding the Nurse Licensure Compact nationwide could improve surge capacity and patient outcomes during disasters.