Abstract

Haemodialysis is a complex procedure that requires highly qualified nursing staff, as it is an extracorporeal treatment in which adverse effects may appear and the patient mortality rate is very high. To assign suitable staff the work loads and degree of dependence of patients should be considered. The aim of this review was to discover the relationship between nursing staff, increase in adverse event rate and mortality rate among users. The methodology used was a database search through the electronic collection of the Libraries System of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Twenty-five articles were reviewed to analyse the relationship between nursing staff and adverse events and mortality. The evidence supports that a higher proportion of nurses reduces adverse event and mortality rates.