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Goal: To investigate the relationship between RN staffing and processes of nursing care and adverse patient events.

Objectives:

Summarize the results of a study of staff nurses and adverse patient events in hemodialysis settings.
Analyze the findings related to RN staffing and adverse patient events in the study.
Describe the identified relationships and highlight the need for federal, state, and dialysis organizational policies to effectively utilize the skills and services of professional RNs.

Acknowledgment: This research was funded by the American Nephrology Nurses' Association. The authors would like to thank the nurses who participated in this research and Dr. Linda Aiken for the permission to use her staffing and processes of care survey items in this project.

Note: The authors reported no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this continuing nursing education article.

Sean P. Clarke PhD, CRNP, FAA

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