HCAHPS scores don't just measure patient satisfaction — they directly determine Medicare reimbursement. And the single biggest driver of HCAHPS performance? Nurse staffing levels. When positions go unfilled, scores drop, penalties kick in, and patient outcomes suffer in measurable, preventable ways. The Numbers 1.44% HCAHPS score decline for each additional patient per nurse (The Lancet) 7% higher mortality rate for each additional patient added to a nurse's workload (The Lan