and describe at least two competing needs impacting your selected healthcare issue/stressor ( ). a that may influence your selected healthcare issue/stressor. for , and and . policies or practice changes designed to balance the competing needs of resources, workers, and patients, while addressing any ethical shortcomings of the existing policies. Be specific and provide examples. that informs the healthcare issue/stressor and/or the policies, and provide two scholarly resources in support of your policy or practice recommendations. Purchase the answer to view it
Introduction
In the realm of healthcare, numerous issues and stressors exist that impact the delivery and quality of care. One significant issue is the allocation of limited resources, which often creates a need to balance competing needs. This assignment will focus on the competing needs that impact the healthcare issue of nurse-patient ratios. Nurse-patient ratios refer to the number of nurses assigned to care for a specific number of patients within a healthcare setting. Adequate nurse-patient ratios are essential for ensuring patient safety, quality of care, and nurse satisfaction. However, balancing the needs for adequate staffing levels with organizational financial resources and patient demands can be challenging.
Competing Needs: Safety vs. Financial Resources
One of the competing needs impacting nurse-patient ratios is patient safety versus financial resources. Research has consistently shown that staffing levels have a direct impact on patient outcomes (Aiken et al., 2014). Studies have demonstrated that lower nurse-patient ratios are associated with better patient outcomes, including reduced mortality rates, lower rates of hospital-acquired infections, and decreased medication errors (Kane et al., 2007; Needleman et al., 2011). These findings highlight the importance of ensuring adequate nurse staffing to promote patient safety.
However, ensuring adequate staffing levels requires financial resources. Hiring more nurses increases labor costs and may strain the financial resources of healthcare organizations. In an era of cost containment, hospitals and healthcare systems must balance the need for patient safety with the financial feasibility of increasing nursing staff. This competing need can create tension between administrators and frontline nurses advocating for safer staffing ratios. Administrators must find a balance that fulfills the financial obligations of the organization while also addressing the patient safety concerns raised by nurses.
Competing Needs: Quality of Care vs. Patient Demand
The second competing need impacting nurse-patient ratios is the demand for quality of care versus patient demand. Patients’ expectations of healthcare services have risen over time, as they rightly desire high-quality care that meets their individual needs. This desire for quality care encompasses not only clinical outcomes but also the overall experience of healthcare delivery. Patients expect prompt attention, personalized care, and access to well-trained healthcare professionals. Achieving these expectations requires adequate nurse staffing levels to meet patient needs effectively.
However, patient demand can often outpace the available nursing resources. An aging population, the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, and advancements in medical technology contribute to increased patient demands for nursing care. These pressures can strain nursing staff, leading to burnout, increased turnover rates, and decreased job satisfaction. Nurses, in turn, may be unable to provide the desired level of quality care, leading to patient dissatisfaction and potential adverse outcomes.
Balancing the competing needs of quality care and patient demand requires strategic planning and effective resource allocation. Healthcare organizations must consider innovative strategies, such as utilizing advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and implementing care team models, to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of care delivery. These approaches leverage the skills of different healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes while meeting the demands for high-quality care. However, implementing these changes may require substantial investments in training, coordination, and organizational restructuring.
Conclusion
The competing needs within the healthcare issue of nurse-patient ratios encompass patient safety versus financial resources and quality of care versus patient demand. Administrators and healthcare organizations must find a balance that ensures patient safety, addresses patient demands, and optimizes the available resources. This necessitates making policy or practice changes to support adequate nurse staffing levels. A comprehensive approach involving collaboration among administrators, nurses, and policymakers is essential to develop effective policies that meet the needs of all stakeholders.
References
Aiken, L. H., Sloane, D. M., Bruyneel, L., Van den Heede, K., Griffiths, P., Busse, R., … & Sermeus, W. (2014). Nurse staffing and education and hospital mortality in nine European countries: a retrospective observational study. The Lancet, 383(9931), 1824-1830.
Kane, R. L., Shamliyan, T. A., Mueller, C., Duval, S., & Wilt, T. J. (2007). The association of registered nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis. Medical care, 45(12), 1195-1204.
Needleman, J., Buerhaus, P., Pankratz, V. S., Leibson, C. L., Stevens, S. R., & Harris, M. (2011). Nurse staffing and inpatient hospital mortality. New England Journal of Medicine, 364(11), 1037-1045.