Increased Mortality Among the Critically Ill Patients Admitted on Weekends: A Global Trend (Report‪)‬

Critical illness and injury have no concept of time and often strike unpredictably. Initially, Alspach's (2010) editorial prompted a literature analysis, as the thought of poorer quality weekend care left the writer feeling uneasy about the health care system. The purpose of this article is to look at the global trend of increased mortality among critically ill patients admitted on weekends. The author uses a Canadian nursing lens to discuss barriers to adequate weekend care, possible solutions to these barriers, and the implications for nursing practice, as discovered through a literature analysis. Background and description of the trend