Health Facility Environment, Nursing Care, Infections, Safety management, Multicenter Study

The aim of this multicenter study was to analyze the prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and adverse events in relation to the nursing practice environment and unfinished nursing care. Methods: This cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in 14 acute care hospitals throughout the Czech Republic. The data on adverse events and HAIs were obtained from patient record and nursing documentation. The Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index was used to assess the practice environment; unfinished nursing care was measured with the Perceived Implicit Rationing of Nursing Care questionnaire. Results: The overall mean number of adverse events including HAIs was 27.7 (±36.10) per 100 patients, the most frequent being pressure ulcers and falls. The most frequent HAIs were urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract and surgical site infections. Statistically significant positive correlations have been found between unfinished nursing care and falls with injury (.223) or gastrointestinal tract infections (.194). The analysis failed to confirm a statistically significant relationship between the nursing practice environment and HAIs (p = .1843). Conclusion: No type of the nursing practice environment affected the prevalence of adverse events and HAIs.