Counting the Cost: How Under Staffing Impacts Patients and Hospitals

Safe staffing isn’t a luxury — it’s a lifesaver

“Understaffing costs lives — and money. This education session unpacks new evidence showing how nurse shortages increase patient deaths, readmissions, and hospital stays, and why investing in permanent registered nurses is both safer and more cost-effective. Explore what this means for nursing practice and patient care.”
CPD HOURS: 1
 Registration Year 2025/2026

Course Content

In this session, we’re going to look at a recent study that examined the impact of nurse understaffing on patient outcomes and hospital costs. The research, conducted across four NHS hospital trusts in England, highlights how inadequate staffing isn’t just stressful for nurses — it directly leads to higher patient deaths, more readmissions, and longer hospital stays.

Importantly, the study also shows that investing in permanent registered nurses is not only safer for patients but also makes financial sense for hospitals. What I’ll share with you is my own interpretation of the article, focusing on what’s most relevant to us as nurses in practice.”

This article examines the impact of hospital understaffing by nurses and whether investing in more nursing staff is cost-effective. The study looked at over 600,000 patient admissions across four NHS hospital trusts in England and measured how being exposed to nurse understaffing in the first five days of admission affected patient outcomes.
This synopsis is my interpretation of the article and is not a reproduction of the original text.

Why this Session may be Relevant to your Work

This information is relevant to my work as a nurse because it shows how safe staffing directly impacts patient safety, quality of care, and the sustainability of the health system I work within.

Learning Outcomes mapped to NMBA Standards

Outcome 1

Explain the relationship between nurse understaffing and patient outcomes, including mortality, readmissions, and length of stay.
  • NMBA Standard 1: Thinks critically and analyses nursing practice.
  • NMBA Standard 6: Provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice..

Outcome 2

Analyse the economic evidence that demonstrates how safe nurse staffing can be both cost-effective and beneficial for hospitals.
  • NMBA Standard 2: Engages in therapeutic and professional relationships (advocating for safe care).
  • NMBA Standard 7: Evaluates outcomes to inform nursing practice.

Outcome 3

Differentiate the impact of permanent registered nurse staffing compared to nursing support staff and agency staff on patient safety and hospital efficiency.
  • NMBA Standard 3: Maintains the capability for practice.
  • NMBA Standard 6: Provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice.

Outcome 4

Apply the findings to nursing practice by identifying how adequate staffing levels contribute to safer, higher-quality, and more sustainable patient care.
  • NMBA Standard 4: Comprehensively conducts assessments.
  • NMBA Standard 6: Provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice.
  • NMBA Standard 7: Evaluates outcomes to inform nursing practice.

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Sue Walker

RN, BN, BN (ADMIN), MPHC, MACN
Sue is the director and co-founder of the Nurses for Nurses Network. Sue is a key contributor to the online education platform Nursing CPD – a Continuing Professional Development platform to assist Nurses in meeting their annual CPD requirements.
As a Registered Nurse, Sue holds Degrees in both Nursing and Health Administration, a Master’s Degree in Public Health, and more...