tudy: Emergency Department Staffing Decisions Require More Than a Ratio
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (Jan. 13, 2026) – Without the right teams in place, emergency department patients may suffer missed or delayed care. A recently published study in the Journal of Emergency Nursing explores considerations for appropriate nurse staffing in the ED.
“The researchers heard directly from emergency nurses who shared concerns about the risks to both patients and nurses that may increase when staffing is inadequate,” said JEN Editor-in-chief Anna Valdez, PhD, RN, PHN, CEN, CFRN, FAEN, FAADN, FADLN.
The study, “Perceived relationships between emergency department staffing patterns and missed care, missed decompensation and delays in care,” was coauthored by ENA Lead Nurse Scientist Lisa Wolf, PhD, RN, CEN, FAEN, FAAN; Ellen Benjamin, PhD, RN, CEN; Paul Clark, PhD, RN, FAEN; and Michael Callihan, PhD, RN, CEN, NRP, FAEN.
It reported on data gathered from emergency nurse focus groups, which illustrated nurses believe a 1-to-3 nurse-patient ratio would ensure tasks are completed and evaluations and care are not missed. Beyond the concern that patient care might suffer, the study notes that improper staffing can lead to nurse burnout.
“Nurse-patient ratios are a start, but the emergency department is a unique environment that needs unique staffing considerations,” Valdez said. “This study can be helpful in future research into the relationships between staffing patterns and outcomes.”
The current issue of the JEN also includes a case study of a patient with brain edema following a cosmetic botulinum toxin injection; a paper exploring the inclusion of human factors in disaster simulation education; and ENA’s recently approved position statement, “Crowding, Boarding, and Patient Throughput in the Emergency Department.”
JEN readers can earn continuing education credits for reading articles in each issue. Visit jenonline.org and click the “Claim CNE” link to access the exam.
The Journal of Emergency Nursing, ENA’s peer-reviewed academic journal, is published six times a year with original research and updates from the emergency nursing specialty, while also covering practice and professional issues.
The Emergency Nurses Association is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With nearly 45,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines and guides emergency health care public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness, and all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org.