Shorter Emergency Department Boarding Times in Hospitals With Better Nurse Staffing.

Cross-sectionalJournal of emergency nursing· Jul 2026

K Jane Muir, Karen B Lasater, Kathy Sliwinski … Daniela Golinelli

Emergency Department FlowCross-sectionalClinical practiceQ2IF 2.3

Better nurse staffing associated with shorter emergency department boarding times.

K Jane Muir … Daniela Golinelli

Journal of emergency nursing · Jul 2026

Background

Boarding occurs when a patient is admitted to the hospital but remains in the emergency department until an inpatient bed is available.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of 335 hospitals in Florida, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

n = 286

Results

worse nurse staffing, longer emergency department boarding

128minute

Worse-staffed

108minute

Better-staffed

More results

Most study hospitals had worse (n = 286) than better (n = 49) patient-to-nurse staffing ratios.

“

Conclusion

Safe nurse staffing levels are a modifiable lever to reduce emergency department crowding through decreasing patient boarding times.