Study: ICU care continuity not associated with improved mortality rate

Researchers found increased continuity in nursing care within intensive care units surprisingly was not associated with fewer in-hospital deaths, challenging conventional thought. The study, published in the Annals of American Thoracic Society, found increased nursing care continuity in some shifts was associated with a modest increase in death. Researchers defined “cumulative nurse continuity” as the proportion of 12-hour shifts during which a patient was cared for by a nurse who had previously cared for them. The retrospective cohort study analyzed electronic health records from 47,564 ICU patients across 38 ICUs in 18 hospitals between 2018 and 2020. They concluded the relationship between nurse continuity and patient outcomes is more complex than previously thought and say further research could help to elucidate underlying factors influencing results. (Newswise news release, 3/5/25)