Nursing and patient outcomes: it's time for healthcare leadership to respond.

An increasing body of research confirms the link between nursing variables (e.g. staffing ratios, skill mix) and patient outcomes including morbidity and mortality. This article presents the key themes that have emerged in this research and translates them into action for senior healthcare leaders. Immediate action is required in order for hospitals to effectively recruit and retain nurses, and to provide high quality patient care that minimizes risk.