An electronic search using MEDLINE and CINAHL databases
between 1986 and 2004 was conducted to retrieve
literature related to the impact of nursing structures and
processes of hospital care on patient mortality. Detailed
results of this search are documented elsewhere. One additional study report published in 2005
was added to our integrated review. A synthesis of 16
published research reports exploring nursing-related correlates
of mortality after acute care hospitalization yielded five
categories of correlates: nurse staffing, nurse–physician relationships,
nurse characteristics, clinical nursing support, and
the nursing practice environment.