ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO SUPPORT HEALTHCARE ISSUES

Quite often, nurse leaders are faced with ethical dilemmas, such as those associated with choices between competing needs and limited resources. Resources are finite, and competition for those resources occurs daily in all organizations.

For example, the use of 12-hour shifts has been a strategy to retain nurses. However, evidence suggests that as nurses work more hours in a shift, they commit more errors. How do effective leaders find a balance between the needs of the organization and the needs of ensuring quality, effective, and safe patient care?

In this Discussion, you will reflect on a national healthcare issue and examine how competing needs may impact the development of polices to address that issue.

Post an explanation of how competing needs, such as the needs of the workforce, resources, and patients, may impact the development of policy. Then, describe any specific competing needs that may impact the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected. What are the impacts, and how might policy address these competing needs? Be specific and provide examples.

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Competing Needs in National Healthcare Policy: The Case of Nurse Staffing Ratios

One critical national healthcare issue is the ongoing debate surrounding nurse staffing ratios. Here’s how competing needs can impact policy development in this area:

Competing Needs:

  • Patient Needs: Adequate nurse staffing ensures quality care, reduces medical errors, and improves patient outcomes.
  • Workforce Needs: Nurses need fair working conditions, including manageable workloads and appropriate scheduling to prevent burnout.
  • Resource Constraints: Hospitals operate under budget limitations, and mandated staffing ratios might increase costs associated with hiring additional nurses.

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Specific Needs and Impacts:

  • Patient Safety:
    • Need:Enough nurses to provide close monitoring, timely interventions, and minimize errors.
    • Impact:Understaffing can lead to missed symptoms, delayed care, and increased risk of hospital-acquired infections.
  • Nurse Retention and Satisfaction:
    • Need:Workable schedules, manageable workloads, and support for professional development contribute to nurse retention.
    • Impact:High nurse-to-patient ratios can lead to burnout, decreased job satisfaction, and higher nurse turnover rates, further exacerbating staffing shortages.
  • Hospital Costs:
    • Need:Hospitals aim to operate efficiently and control costs.
    • Impact:Implementing mandated staffing ratios could increase healthcare costs, potentially impacting patient access to care.

Policy Considerations:

  • Flexibility:Policies could consider different staffing ratios for various units based on patient acuity levels.
  • Incentives:Financial incentives could be offered to hospitals that meet or exceed recommended staffing levels, promoting patient safety while acknowledging budget constraints.
  • Workforce Investment:Policies could encourage programs to increase nurse graduates, improve nurse retention strategies, and address underlying causes of the nursing shortage.

Conclusion:

Finding a balance between these competing needs requires a multifaceted approach. Policymakers, healthcare administrators, and nurses need to work collaboratively to develop strategies that ensure patient safety, support the nursing workforce, and promote the financial sustainability of the healthcare system.

 

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