...Literature Review: Increasing Nurse to Patient Ratio Michael Brandenberg Central Methodist University Literature Review: Increasing Nurse to Patient Ratio Introduction There are many studies that examine the number of patients a single nurse can take care of safely. Many of these studies results show that the more patients a single nurse cares for, increases the likely hood that the patients’ will have a negative outcome. The three articles reviewed here, also conclude that by having fewer patients a single nurse cares for, the patients have a better outcome then those whose nurse is caring for more patients. When nurses are required to care for an unsafe number of patients, they are not able to provide adequate...
Words: 902 - Pages: 4
...Application of Theory Neukenya Jokines Chamberlain College of Nursing Application of Theory The future of nursing is dependent upon nursing leadership that adheres to the professional standards in regards to education, research and practice. On a daily basis decisions are made by nurses that directly affect the lives of others. Nursing theory is a guide that has been set in place in order for nurses to look upon when it comes to daily healthcare decisions. It was stated by Cody (2003), that “one learns to practice nursing by studying nursing theories” (pg. 226). This statement can be applied to the problems of nursing leadership, problem solving and decision making. Cody (2003), also states that “nursing practice will be transformed to the betterment of humankind when all nursing practice is fully autonomous and guided predominantly by nursing theory” (pg. 230). For many years nursing practice has found its foundations from nursing theories. Understanding how nursing knowledge within healthcare organizations influence patient and organizational outcomes are discussed in the middle range theory of nursing intellectual capital (Covell, 2008). Intellectual capital is defined as the combination of collective knowledge of individuals and structures in an organization or society. The theory consists of two concepts of nursing which includes human capital and nursing structural capital. According to (Covell & Sidani, 2013) “Intellectual capital theory defines human capital...
Words: 1758 - Pages: 8
...complications, falls, medication errors and overall patient’s conditions. American Nurse Association found that 54 percent of nurses on medical unit report that nurses are not spending enough time with patients. Because nursing labor cost consumes the largest fraction of budget, many hospitals trying to save money by requiring nurse to work longer hours and care for more number of patients. This short-sight solution not only creates heavier work load to staffs but also threatens patient’s safety. There are no absolute answers to determine nurse to patient ration because it affected by variety situations and acuity of patient as well as units. However, since appropriate nursing staffing affects the patient and nurse mentally, physically and medically but also the financially, this issues must be addressed by Registered Nurses when one encounter with unsafe nurse-to-patient ratio. Nursing Staffs for Patient’s Safety When RN encounters with inadequate staffing, one must notify to direct supervisor because unsafe staffing is an important factor that threatens patient’s well-being. Management becomes accountable to provide adequate staffing for the nurses and the patients. Hospital faces the challenge to reconcile between their own needs and patient’s safety by providing enough nursing staffs. It would be easier if management incorporate collective factors into the staffing plan such as patient diagnoses, staff competency, daily censes, unit turnover and so on. Each...
Words: 305 - Pages: 2
...SAMPLE ESSAY #1 -- Good Example Nursing is a Way of Life When contemplating a career choice, psychologists often suggest revisiting the activities that one took pleasure in as a child. Unwittingly, children engross themselves wholeheartedly in activities that bring them the greatest delight and contentment. As adults, those qualities equate to stimulation and satisfaction–two elements necessary to sustain a successful career. In my youth, I enjoyed playing “schoolteacher,” more importantly however, from the ages of six to fifteen, I tended to the needs of my chronically ill grandmother. During this period of time, the idea of playing nurse never crossed my mind; rather, care giving was a way of life. The magnitude of influence that caring for my grandmother had in shaping my career decisions is immense; although it was unknown to me for quite some time. A distinct correlation was made early in my employment as a Clinical Assistant at Seton Medical Center. While holding the hand of a patient, as he passed through the stages of a stroke, I recognized the tone and delivery of my words as that which I used when comforting my grandmother during a similar event. Amidst the chaos of the medical team, I became overwhelmed with a sense of complete wholeness that I had not felt before. I become acutely aware that my childhood care giving role had provided me with a unique ability to invest myself fully into the health and wellbeing of others, in the very same way that I had done with...
Words: 1279 - Pages: 6
...population; therefore, this essay aims at comparing the differences on patient experiences in Hong Kong between public and private hospital care. In this essay, "patient experiences" is defined as the range of interactions that patient have with the professionals or specialists in hospital,also the several aspects of health care the patient received. Thus, provision of care by hospital staff, provision of different components of patient care and treatment and provision of information on leaving hospital will be compare in the essay. Firstly, comparing the experiences during the admission to hospital. The main component...
Words: 720 - Pages: 3
...The purpose of this essay is to discuss a patient safety problem and to indicate the extent of the problem along with some approaches that are utilised to address it. The problem I am going to discuss is on patient safety and infection control. The essay will be presented in three sections. What I will discuss in these 3 section are as follows, the risk factors, the most common HAI and finally how to try and prevent the spread of infection in hospital settings. First of all what is infection control? According to the World Health Organisation ‘’Infection Prevention and Control measures aim to ensure protection of those who might be vulnerable to acquiring an infection both in the general community or while receiving care during hospitalisation’’....
Words: 986 - Pages: 4
...Differences in competencies between nurses prepared at the associate-degree level versus the baccalaureate degree level in nursing. Grand Canyon University: NRS-430 March 9, 2014 The art of nursing arose in a primitive time when one person cared for another who was sick. The goal of nursing is to incorporate theoretical and experimental nursing from the sciences and technology. The aim to promote high quality, safe nursing care, to prevent illness and facilitate coping. To accomplish these goals, the nurse takes the role of caregiver, teacher and collaborator. As nursing grows and changes to meet the needs of society, laws have been made and “standard sets that govern the practice of the nursing profession.” (Creasia & Friberg, 2011, p. 47) A brief historical overview helps gain a better understanding of the factors influencing nursing education and how each program contributes to the new age health care institution. For example, Florence Nightingale trained to become a nurse in mid-1800s and started the first school of nursing, her beliefs about nursing hold true today. Nursing training becomes a way for a woman to obtain further education and employment that could provide independence. The institution made a pathway for nurses to pursue higher education. Back in 1965, the American Nurses Association adopted a brave state asking for bachelors the “entry point into professional nursing practice.” (Creasia & Friberg, 2011, p. 24) ...
Words: 996 - Pages: 4
...Details: In this assignment, you will be writing a 1,000-1,250-word essay describing the differing approaches of nursing leaders and managers to issues in practice. To complete this assignment, do the following: 1. Select an issue from the following list: nursing shortage and nurse turn-over, nurse staffing ratios, unit closures and restructuring, use of contract employees (i.e., registry and travel nurses), continuous quality improvement and patient satisfaction, and magnet designation. 2. Compare and contrast how you would expect nursing leaders and managers to approach your selected issue. Support your rationale by using the theories, principles, skills, and roles of the leader versus manager described in your readings. 3. Identify the approach that best fits your personal and professional philosophy of nursing and explain why the approach is suited f hfhf Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. bvgmngfhf You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Refer to the directions in the Student Success Center. Only Word documents can be submitted to Turnitin. "Delivery" outreach commonly serves people who are hampered by barriers such as lack of transportation, low income, lack of health insurance, and cultural differences. It is frequently used in working with people who live in rural areas, underserved urban areas, and on Native American reservations...
Words: 297 - Pages: 2
...The aim of this essay is to explore an acute deterioration in the health of an adult I have encountered during a clinical placement, in an acute care setting. The essay will begin with a definition of acute care, followed by the introduction of my patient and predisposing factors. This essay will include an explanation of the significant pathophysiological changes and related clinical manifestations and a critical analysis of the nursing interventions implemented during the acute episode of care, focusing on holistic care, rationale and evidence base. It will then describe the actual deterioration in the patient’s condition, and discuss the nurse’s role in the recognition and assessment of the actual deteriorating condition following the trusts policies. Assessment tools, monitoring, detecting and reporting will be considered. Finally this essay will include a discussion of the importance of multidisciplinary team collaboration in the diagnosis and provision of care during the acute episode, and a discussion on whether the deterioration could have been prevented by identifying any areas of practice which could change in relation to evidence based practice. For the purposes of privacy and confidentiality, in accordance with NMC (2008) code of conduct, the name of the patient will be changed to Peter and the placement area will remain as an acute care setting. According to McFerran (2008) the term “acute” is described as a disease of rapid onset, severe symptoms, and brief duration...
Words: 4236 - Pages: 17
...direct the nursing profession on their parts and conversions that nursing is going to face. In this essay the IOM report that was completed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) on the future of nursing will be explored. There will be discussion of the four nursing initiatives as well as the influence that the IOM report has on the nursing workforce in the near feature. The Future of Nursing Campaign for Action and rationale of state based action coalitions will be discussed as well as their intentions. IOM Report Summary The IOM and the RWJF instigated a study that would define the ideal approach in which nurses would be able to make positive impression on the health of the over-all public. This research began in 2008 and lasted two years; while compiling the necessary statistics to complete the report that was then released in 2010. The IOM report on the future of nursing shown emphasizes on four key components. McNeal stated in the IOM report that the first component that is important to the future of nursing is that nurses should practice to the full extent of their education and training (2012). The second component that McNeal believed to be important is that all nurses should attain higher levels of education and training through an enhanced educational system that encourages continuous academic progression (2012). The third component on McNeal’s list was that nurses...
Words: 1467 - Pages: 6
...NM1704: Applying a model of nursing roper, logan and tierney model This essay explores the preoperative care provided to one patient in a London hospital during one shift. This care was influenced by the holistic perspective to health. Arsing from the Greek for ‘whole’ this acknowledges physiological, psychological and social factors impacting the patient’s condition. (McFerran & Martin, 2008) It seeks to offer treatment inclusive of these factors rather than treating physical symptoms of a diagnosed disease in isolation. This essay will examine this within a Model of Nursing used in my clinical placement area - the Roper, Logan and Tierney model. The identities of both hospital and patient have been altered to maintain confidentiality and comply with the NMC Code of Conduct. (Council, 2008) During my placement I worked on a coronary care unit where I cared for a patient herein called Peter, a 60 year old White British male. Peter was single, lived alone and unemployed. He had a history of low mood and was admitted to a neighbouring hospital suffering symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome (acute confusion, delusions and tremors). This arises when an individual reduces or stops alcohol consumption after prolonged periods of excessive alcohol intake. This can lead to tolerance, physical dependence and physical disturbances upon withdrawal due to the central nervous system reacting in a hyper-excitable state. (About.com, 2010) He was transferred to my area...
Words: 3559 - Pages: 15
...Holistic Account of Care for a Patient or Client with Complex Needs What are complex needs? Who has them? It could be argued that everyone's needs are complex and as such, complex needs have been difficult to define (Rosengard et al., 2007). This essay intends to use literature to outline a systematic and holistic approach to care of a patient's complex needs. The nursing process and its framework of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation will be utilised to provide a patient centred approach (Castledine, 2011). Rankin and Regan (2004) described complex needs as being a framework rather than a label that determines service eligibility. The needs of people include breadth (range of need) and depth (severity); these factors have to be taken into account when providing holistic care. Holistic care is defined as an approach which takes into consideration the physical, mental and social factors in an illness, rather than just the disease itself (Martin, 2010). The person this essay will centre around gave informed consent to have their notes consulted with the intention to write this essay, in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council's (NMC) The Code (2008). There are seven elements to informed consent; competence to decide, voluntariness to decide, disclosure of information, recommendation of a plan, understanding of the disclosure and recommendation, decision of the plan and authorising of the plan (Beauchamp & Childress, 1994 pp. 145-146). In line with the...
Words: 3716 - Pages: 15
...Erving Goffman is known for his contributions to the field of sociology. Goffman studied social interactions through microsociology and created a framework for studying social interaction in everyday life. In Goffman’s study of mental institutions, a participant observational study, he constructed the framework for defining social situations as total institutions. In his essay, “Characteristics of Total Institutions,” Goffman discusses the totalistic features as well as the mortification processes that effect members of the institution. While this concept has been used by many researchers and writers, it lacks scientific methods and measurements of data collection and may contain biases. However, this does not discredit Goffman’s model but...
Words: 1613 - Pages: 7
...Health Reform Essay for Concepts in Health Admin Graduate Course With the 2010 passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), health care leaders are facing increased pressure to meet the demands of the reform. The implementation of the ACA expanded healthcare coverage to millions of Americans. This expansion of coverage meant that health care facilities needed to be equipped with enough workers to meet the large number of patients who would now be seeking medical care. However, prior to the ACA, the health care force was already facing a shortage of providers, such as physicians and nurses (Anderson, 2014). So, while health care reform was necessary, it came at a time when health care systems were already in a fragile place. In order for health care institutions to meet the challenges of the ACA and be successful in today’s society, it is imperative that they are equipped with administrators and leaders who “…have diverse skills and a different intellectual approach, as well as creativity, adaptability, and flexibility” (Cicatiello, 2000, p. 21). Prior to the implementation of the ACA, barriers to health insurance left approximately 47 million Americans uninsured (Garfield et al., 2014). At that time, quality health insurance was very costly. Many Americans were too poor to afford health insurance, but made too much to qualify for Medicaid. Additionally, many of America’s largest companies did not offer health benefits to their employees, even if they...
Words: 1298 - Pages: 6
...The aim of the essay is to analyse the care of a septic patient. While discussing the relevant physiological changes and the rationale for the treatment the patient received, concentrating on fluid intervention. I recognise there are other elements to the Surviving Sepsis Bundles, however due to word limitation; the focus will be on fluid intervention. The essay will be written as a Case Study format. To maintain patient confidentiality any identifying features have been removed in keeping with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code of Professional Conduct (NMC, 2008) the patient will be referred to as Mr X. Mr X was an 80-year-old male admitted to ITU, from the Medical Assessment Unit, with increasing respiratory failure. His initial clinical observations were: Systolic Blood Pressure: 100mmHg MAP: 58mmHg Heart Rate: 120 beats per minute Lactate: 3.2mmol/l Temperature: 38.6* These clinical observations indicated that the patient was experiencing a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) as the patient had a pyrexia above 38*C and a heart rate above 90 beats per minute. The results of the blood cultures and chest radiograph indicated pneumonia. The patient’s condition was now treated as sepsis. Sepsis is characterized by SIRS, which is complicated by a severe infection (Neveire, Parsons and Wilson 2008). The pathophysiology of systemic inflammatory response, experienced by Mr X is portrayed in Table 1: Table 1 Morton et al 2005 Mediator | Source...
Words: 3132 - Pages: 13
