McHugh MD, Aiken LH, Sloane DM, et al. - In view of substantial evidence suggesting achievement of more favorable patient outcomes in hospitals with better nurse staffing, researchers herein sought to evaluate the effects of minimum nurse-to-patient ratio mandates (One such policy designed to achieve better staffing) on staffing levels and patient outcomes and investigated if both were associated. In 2016, implementation of minimum nurse-to-patient ratios was done in selected hospitals by Queensland (Australia). For this prospective panel study, Queensland hospitals subjected to the ratio policy (27 intervention hospitals) were compared with those that discharged similar patients but were not subjected to ratios (28 comparison hospitals) at two timepoints: before implementation of ratios (baseline) and 2 years after implementation (post-implementation). Per findings, intervention hospitals exhibited majority of changes, and staffing improvements by one patient per nurse led to decreases in mortality as well as readmissions. Furthermore, along with producing better outcomes, the costs averted due to fewer readmissions and shorter length of stay were more than double the cost of the additional nurse staffing. Outcomes support the feasibility of applying minimum nurse-to-patient ratio policies for improving nurse staffing and patient outcomes with good return on investment.