Documents and Resources

The following list serves as an introduction for anyone exploring the topic of healthcare economics for the first time, as well as a guide for those who wish to deepen their knowledge in specific areas. The articles were selected by ASNE members and cover four key topics; there is also a section featuring publications by ASNE members.

Topic 1 – Nursing Staffing Levels and Patient Outcomes

These are the foundational studies that demonstrate the relationship between staffing levels in nursing care and treatment outcomes. They are frequently cited in health policy and form the empirical basis for the field of nursing economics.

• Aiken, L. H., Clarke, S. P., Sloane, D. M., Sochalski, J., & Silber, J. H. (2002). Hospital nurse staffing and patient mortality, nurse burnout, and job dissatisfaction.. JAMA, 288(16), 1987-1993. DOI: 10.1001/jama.288.16.1987
• Aiken, L. H., Sloane, D. M., Bruyneel, L., Van den Heede, K., Griffiths, P., Busse, R., Diomidous, M., Kinnunen, J., Közsi, M., Lesaffre, E., McHugh, M. D., Moreno-Casbas, M. T.,
• Rafferty, A. M., Schwendimann, R., Scott, P. A., Tishelman, C., van Achterberg, T., & Sermeus, W. (2014). Nurse staffing and education and hospital mortality in nine European countries: a retrospective observational study.. The Lancet, 383(9931), 1824–1830. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)62631-8
  
  

Topic 2 – Nursing-Specific Outcomes and Quality Indicators

These studies form the methodological basis for measuring the contribution of nursing to patient care using defined quality indicators.

• Needleman, J., Buerhaus, P., Mattke, S., Stewart, M., & Zelevinsky, K. (2002). Nurse-staffing levels and the quality of care in hospitals.. New England Journal of Medicine, 346(22), 1715-1722. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMsa012247
• Öner, B., Zengul, F. D., Oner, N., Ivankova, N. V., Karadag, A., & Patrician, P. A. (2021). Nursing-sensitive indicators for nursing care: A systematic review (1997–2017).. Nursing Open, 8(3), 1005–1022. DOI: 10.1002/nop2.654
  
  

Topic 3 – Health Economics Methods for Nursing Research

These articles and materials provide an overview of economic evaluation and HEOR methods and can be directly applied to nursing research.

• Fitzpatrick, E., & Dempsey, O. (2024). Health economics in nursing research: what you need to know to include economic evaluation methodology in your research.. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 23(1), 99–107. DOI: 10.1093/eurjcn/zvad085
• Unruh, L., & Fottler, M. (2008). Economics of nursing.. PMC / PubMed Central. NIH. DOI: 10.1177/019394590802900310

Topic 4 – The Swiss Healthcare System in Context

These sources provide important background information on the reforms of the Swiss healthcare system that are of particular significance to the economics of nursing care, including EFAS and the Nursing Care Initiative.

• WHO European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. (2025). The EFAS reform introduces uniform financing of outpatient and inpatient services.. Switzerland Health Systems Monitor, European Observatory. Link
• Federal Council of Switzerland / Swiss Nursing Association (SBK-ASI). (2025). Implementation of the Pflegeinitiative: Stage 2 draft law on working conditions and professional regulation. Federal Council documentation, submitted to Parliament May 2025. Link

Theme 5 — The value of nursing: broader perspectives

These articles place the economics of nursing within a broader strategic and global context.

• Abujaber, A. A., & Nashwan, A. J. (2025). Beyond cost centers: The true economic contribution of nursing in healthcare.. SAGE Open Nursing, 11. DOI: 10.1177/23779608251356144
• World Health Organization. (2020). State of the world’s nursing 2020: Investing in education, jobs and leadership.. WHO, Geneva. Link