In two studies, hypotheses were tested of relationships
between various aspects of nursing work environments and
hospital mortality. Examples of indicators of nursing work
environments included: nurse autonomy, nurse control over the practice setting, and nurse manager ability and support.
Conflicting results were found. Aiken et al. (1994) found that
magnet hospitals characterized by having stronger professional
nursing practice environments had lower mortality
rates. Tourangeau et al. (2002) did not find a relationship
between the condition of the nursing practice environment
and mortality rates in Ontario hospitals.