[The impact of nursing on mortality of hospitalized patients. A review of literature].

INTRODUCTION: Many studies developed over the last twenty years have shown a significant relationship between nursing and patient mortality. The purpose of this study is to provide an updated overview of studies published in recent years on factors related to mortality, nursing, medical-surgical patients admitted to hospitals for acute conditions, through a literature review.METHODS: The research was conducted in June 2010 on Medline, CINAHL, Embase, Trip database and BioMed Central, using keywords and MeSH terms. We analyzed primary research published between 2002 and 2010, with an abstract in the English language which found a causal relationship between nursing and the rate of mortality among patients was analyzed. 272 articles were found from which 14 were selected for the purpose of this study.RESULTS: The findings of the articles examined highlighted several categories of nursing determinants that may impact on patients' mortality: educational level of nurses, nurse staffing, employment status , clinical experience, nurse-physician relationships, clinical nursing support, job satisfaction, nurse control over the practice setting and systematic use of care maps or protocols to guide patient care.CONCLUSION: Almost all studies reported a significant association between factors related to nursing care and mortality rates of patients. If until 2002, some results could still be challenged, the impetus given to this type of research in recent years, only confirms this correlation.