The level of registered nurse (RN) staffing is a fundamental factor influencing patient safety.\nCraniotomy patients need intensive care after surgery, the majority of which is provided by RNs.\nMethods: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship of the RN staffing level of general wards and\nintensive care units (ICUs) with in-hospital mortality after craniotomy using Korean National Health Insurance claim\ndata. The RN staffing level was categorized based on the bed-to-RN ratio.\nResults: The in-hospital mortality rate of craniotomy patients was elevated at hospitals with a high bed-to-RN ratio\nin general wards, ICUs, and hospitals overall. It was determined that in-hospital mortality of craniotomy patients\ncould be decreased by more than 50% by reducing the bed-to-RN ratio from 4.5 or more to less than 3.5 in general\nwards, from 1.25 or more to less than 0.88 in ICUs, and from 2.5 or more to less than 1.67 in hospitals overall.\nConclusions: Since the RN staffing level is related to the in-hospital mortality rate of craniotomy patients, a\nsufficient staffing level of RNs should be ensured to reduce the mortality of craniotomy patients.
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