There are many reasons why maintaining proper nurse staffing ratios is important. Not only will it improve patient outcomes, but it will also make the job easier for nurses.
Multiple studies, including those headed by Penn Nursing CHOPR members, have linked nurse staffing levels to patient mortality. However, some of these NURS FPX 6218 Assesment 3 Planning for Community (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) studies have a high risk of bias.
1. You Get to Care for a Wide Range of Patients
Studies have linked registered nurse staffing levels to patient outcomes. For example, lower number of patients per nurse has been associated with fewer adverse events (like medication error) and a reduced risk of mortality in hospitals.
However, the evidence is inconsistent on how to achieve safe nursing workloads. Some studies report benefits of higher nurse-to-patient ratios whereas others show no benefits. Furthermore, the use of different nursing staffing methods may impact results. Some studies fail to control for the staffing levels of other personnel and thus, their results may be biased. Determining adequate nurse staffing on a shift-by-shift basis is complex and requires careful consideration of patient acuity, skill mix, and the availability of support services. It also involves incorporating professional judgement and individual nurses’ preferences.
3. You Get to Care for Others
Nurses are often the first, and sometimes the only, health professional a patient will see. As a result, they are responsible for coordinating care, monitoring patients’ conditions, and administering medications and treatments.
Unfortunately, this can take a physical and emotional toll on nurses. Burnout and compassion fatigue can contribute to an inability to provide quality care, which ultimately leads to poor outcomes for NURS FPX 4040 Assessment 1 Nursing Informatics in Health Care (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).
Safe staffing helps to keep nurses happy, healthy, and ready to care for their patients. However, some studies fail to control for other staff members’ workloads, which could lead to an overestimation of the effects of higher nurse staffing ratios. Other studies use cross-sectional designs, making it difficult to assess the impact of nurses’ staffing on patient outcomes. Regardless, many studies report positive outcomes for both nurses and patients with higher MHA FPX 5010 Assessment 1 Current Environmental Analysis (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) ratios.
4. You Get to Be Flexible
There’s no doubt that a shortage of nurses can throw off the most carefully planned shift schedule. When census peaks unexpectedly, nurse leaders must quickly find temporary staff to meet the demand.
Using temporary staff can help ensure adequate patient care and minimize the risk of medical errors. Nurses from staffing companies are experienced, vetted and trained to provide the best possible nurs fpx 4050 assessment 1 coordination patient centered care (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) outcomes.
Research shows that increasing nurse-to-patient ratios leads to fewer deaths, shorter hospital stays and lower costs. However, rigid ratios may not be the best solution for hospitals. Instead, a formal staffing plan should be in place to support unit- and shift-specific nursing needs. This approach will allow for flexibility, which is critical in an environment where patient numbers can fluctuate.
5. You Get to Work Long Shifts
Working long shifts can cause nurse fatigue. This can lead to medication errors, missed care activities, and other mistakes that could put patients at risk. Nurses who work long shifts also have less time to spend with their family and friends.
Some nurses prefer to work a one-day on, two days off schedule. This means they will work Monday, Tuesday, and Friday and have the weekend off. Others may choose to stack their days, which would mean they work three straight 12-hour shifts.
Whether long shifts are implemented voluntarily or out of staffing necessity, it is important to address the issue of nursing fatigue. This can lead to poor patient outcomes and higher turnover rates for hospitals. Ultimately, addressing this issue will benefit everyone involved Nurs fpx 6026 assessment 3 letter to the editor population health policy (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre)