Organization of Nursing and Quality of Care for Veterans at the End of Life

• Published in: Journal of pain and symptom management 2015-03, Vol.49 (3), p.570-577
• Main Authors: Kutney-Lee, Ann, PhD, RN, Brennan, Caitlin W., PhD, APRN, Meterko, Mark, PhD, Ersek, Mary, PhD, RN
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anesthesia & Perioperative Care; Cross-Sectional Studies; Databases, Factual; Department of Veterans Affairs; end-of-life care; Female; Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing - organization & administration; Hospitals, Veterans - organization & administration; Humans; Male; Medical Records; Middle Aged; Nursing care; Pain Medicine; palliative care; quality of care; Quality of Health Care; Terminal Care - organization & administration; United States; United States Department of Veterans Affairs - organization & administration; Veterans; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0885-3924; 1873-6513
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.07.002

Abstract Context The Veterans Health Administration (VA) has improved the quality of end-of-life (EOL) care over the past several years. Several structural and process variables are associated with better outcomes. Little is known, however, about the relationship between the organization of nursing care and EOL outcomes. Objectives To examine the association between the organization of nursing care, including the nurse work environment and nurse staffing levels, and quality of EOL care in VA acute care facilities. Methods Secondary analysis of linked data from the Bereaved Family Survey (BFS), electronic medical record, administrative data, and the VA Nursing Outcomes Database. The sample included 4908 veterans who died in one of 116 VA acute care facilities nationally between October 2010 and September 2011. Unadjusted and adjusted generalized estimating equations were used to examine associations between nursing and BFS outcomes. Results BFS respondents were 17% more likely to give an excellent overall rating of the quality of EOL care received by the veteran in facilities with better nurse work environments ( P  ≤ 0.05). The nurse work environment also was a significant predictor of providers listening to concerns and providing desired treatments. Nurse staffing was significantly associated with an excellent overall rating, alerting of the family before death, attention to personal care needs, and the provision of emotional support after the patient's death. Conclusion Improvement of the nurse work environment and nurse staffing in VA acute care facilities may result in enhanced quality of care received by hospitalized veterans at the EOL.