Nurse workload and inexperienced medical staff members are associated with seasonal peaks in severe adverse events in the adult medical intensive care unit: A seven-year prospective study

Results identify nurse workload and the arrival of inexperienced residents or senior registrars as risk factors for the occurrence of life-threatening adverse events in the adult medical intensive care unit. Limiting fluctuations in bed-to-nurse ratio and providing inexperienced medical staff members with sufficient supervision may decrease severe adverse events in critically ill patients.