Analysis of Nursing Education's Influence on Patient Safety Outcomes

This report analyzes the impact of nursing education on patient outcomes, drawing on a cross-sectional study by Aiken et al. (2017) which examined the relationship between nursing skill mix and care quality, patient mortality, and patient care ratings across multiple countries. The report highlights the positive correlation between a higher proportion of educated nurses, particularly those with Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees, and improved patient safety, reduced mortality rates, and higher quality of care. The report also includes a personal reflection on the author's nursing education and its impact on clinical skills, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive educational backgrounds for nurses in enhancing patient satisfaction and healthcare outcomes. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for healthcare organizations to prioritize recruiting nurses with advanced educational qualifications to ensure better patient care.

Running head: NURSING EDUCATION AND PATIENT OUTCOMES
NURSING EDUCATION AND PATIENT OUTCOMES
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1NURSING EDUCATION AND PATIENT OUTCOMES
Introduction
Patient safety and quality of delivered healthcare services are associated closely with
educational background and skill sets prevalent within the nursing workforce (Harrison et al.,
2019). This following paper will briefly explore the link between nursing education and positive
patient safety outcomes by drawing from relevant evidence.
Discussion
A recent cross sectional study conducted by Aiken et al., (2017), examined the
relationship between the skill mix of the nursing workforce and rates of care quality, patient
mortality and patient care ratings by surveying administrative data of 243 hospitals across Spain,
Belgium, Switzerland, England and Ireland. The findings indicated that with a 10 fold rise in the
number of professional and certified nurses within the healthcare workforce, there were
reductions in the odds of poor service quality complaints (OR = 0.89), patient mortality (OR =
0.89), negative patient feedback (0.90), low health outcomes (0.93) and inadequate safety grades
(OR = 0.89). Such findings demonstrate a positive link between nurses’ educational level and
positive patient health outcomes as well as deliverance of care services which are of optimum
quality and credibility.
Such findings can be related to my personal nursing experiences as a student. During my
first simulation training experience, I remember making a number of mistakes related to
conducting the correct patient assessment. Such errors were almost non-existent during my final
semester practicum experience as a nursing student. Indeed, as compared to an Associated
Degree in Nursing (AND), a nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is likely to
possess greater skills in terms of critical thinking, analytical understanding of patient’s health

2NURSING EDUCATION AND PATIENT OUTCOMES
and clinical leadership and is thus, likely to deliver safe, evidence based care of better quality
(Harrison et al., 2019). For this reason, I relate and agree with the findings demonstrated by
Aiken et al., (2017).
Conclusion
Thus, with the help of relevant evidence based research, the following paper successfully
demonstrated a positive relationship between nursing educational levels and higher possibility of
achieving positive patient safety outcomes. To conclude, healthcare organizations must consider
recruiting nurses with comprehensive educational backgrounds for improved patient satisfaction.

3NURSING EDUCATION AND PATIENT OUTCOMES
References
Aiken, L. H., Sloane, D., Griffiths, P., Rafferty, A. M., Bruyneel, L., McHugh, M., ... &
Sermeus, W. (2017). Nursing skill mix in European hospitals: cross-sectional study of the
association with mortality, patient ratings, and quality of care. BMJ quality &
safety, 26(7), 559-568.
Harrison, J. M., Aiken, L. H., Sloane, D. M., Brooks Carthon, J. M., Merchant, R. M., Berg, R.
A., ... & American Heart Association’s Get With the Guidelines–Resuscitation
Investigators. (2019). In Hospitals With More Nurses Who Have Baccalaureate Degrees,
Better Outcomes For Patients After Cardiac Arrest. Health Affairs, 38(7), 1087-1094.