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Newswise — In her new study in , Penn Nursing's and colleagues report that very low birthweight infants, those weighing less than 3.25 pounds, account for half of infant deaths in the United States each year, yet these critically ill infants do not uniformly receive optimal nursing care. This can lead to hospital-acquired infections that double their death rate and may result in long-term developmental issues affecting the quality of their lives as adults.

Dr. Lake, the Jessie M. Scott Term Chair in Nursing & Health Policy Teaching, leads a program of research on the contributions of the nurse's work environment and clinical nursing expertise to patient outcomes.

"Research demonstrating the positive effects on nurses and patients of good work environments can be a catalyst for change," says Dr. Lake, whose work is part of the Penn Nursing .

The is one of the premier research institutions in nursing, producing new knowledge in geriatrics, pediatrics, oncology, quality-of-life choices, and other areas. Researchers here consistently receive more research funding from the National Institutes of Health than any other private nursing school, and many Master’s programs are ranked first in the country.