Impact of Nurse-to-Patient Ratios on ICU Patient Mortality: Aligned with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

Abstract

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a highly specialized healthcare environment where timely and continuous nursing care is essential for patient survival. This study explores the impact of nurse-to-patient ratios on ICU patient mortality through a synthesis of existing literature. The results show that a lower nurse-patient ratio correlates with lower mortality, especially the ratio of 1:1 or 1:2 than when it is 1:3 or higher. Understaffing is a factor that adds to the adverse events such as the acquisition of hospital-acquired infections, medication errors, and late recognition of deterioration, which directly affect patient survival and safety. In addition to this, the workload of nurses results in their burnout, loss of vigilance, and missed care, which subsequently increases the risk of mortality. Although proper staffing might increase an operation budget in the short-term, it is a cost-effective decision over the long-term due to avoided complications, shorter length of stay and decreasing the readmission rates. The global inequalities reveal that nations that have put in place staffing requirements indicate better results, yet the low- and middle-income countries experience higher death-rate issues because of insufficient staffing and shortage of resources. This research indicates that there is an urgent need of evidence-based staffing policies, institutional reforms and work force support systems to minimize preventable ICU mortality and enhance critical care delivery.