...------------------------------------------------- BROCHURE ON CALIFORNIA STATE MANDATED NURSE PATIENT RATIO. Does mandating Nurse-Patient ratio improve care? Information for nurses and patients. BY SHINY EDWARD RN UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX JULY 8, 2012. ------------------------------------------------- BROCHURE ON CALIFORNIA STATE MANDATED NURSE PATIENT RATIO. Does mandating Nurse-Patient ratio improve care? Information for nurses and patients. BY SHINY EDWARD RN UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX JULY 8, 2012. Explanation of the facts, history, legislative regulations, controversial aspects and opinions Explanation of the facts, history, legislative regulations, controversial aspects and opinions MANDATED NURSE PATIENT RATIO How does it affect you and your loved ones? Nurse patient ratio for safe care means when the staffing between the nurses and the patients are safe to provide the care patients need to get well in the hospital or nursing homes. Why is this important? Several studies have shown that patients get well faster and safer when they receive more nursing care. Even more importantly according to Linda Aiken study (2003), mortality rates and staffing ratios are closely tied. Each additional patient per RN after four patients, chances of dying in the hospital is increased by 7%.Patient on a surgical unit with patient –RN ratio of 8:1 were 31% more likely to die within 30days than those on surgical units with ratios of 4:1.Studies have shown...
Words: 3918 - Pages: 16
...hospital and clinical staffing. Proposed nurse to patient staffing ratios has become a huge discussion in the healthcare field. It has developed a huge concern that patients and nursing staffs are being harmed related to the inadequate nurse to patient ratio staff. This issue alone has caused an increase in severity of illness, fatigue, hospital stay, and harm to patients. With the increase in complexity of care per patients, nurses grow weary thus increase the negative impact of the inability to improve the quality of hospitalization outcomes for the patients. It is prominent that we identify and maintain the appropriate number of the nurse to patient staffing ratio, as it is critical key of delivering the optimal quality patient care. In the pass few years and even up until now, there has been a massive growth in need for more registered nurses in hospitals and clinics due to the rising acuity of patients and shorter lengths of stay. More and more patients appear looking for healthcare assistance. The safety and quality of the care patients are looking for are becoming difficult to find as registered nurses grow exhausted and drained out of energy. Inpatient working conditions has weakened in various facilities, as hospitals cannot fulfill the necessity of the rising demand for nurses. As these scenarios repeatedly appear in multiple facilities, patients and nurses are looking for ways to motivate state legislature to regulate adequate nurse staffing in hospitals and clinics...
Words: 2248 - Pages: 9
...discuss the reviews of the literature that pertains to the problem/issue chosen by this writer. The problem/issue chosen is the current issue with staffing of hospitals, nursing homes, medical clinics and specialty clinics, and why some of those problems are occurring. In addition to current issues in staffing, the future needs of nursing staff and what is being done now, and can be done in the future to enhance the quality and quantity of practicing registered nurses. In an article published in 2004 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, it was stated that “hospitals with low nurse staffing levels tend to have higher rates of poor patient outcomes such as pneumonia, shock, cardiac arrest, and urinary tract infections. Major factors contributing to lower staffing levels include the needs of today’s higher acuity patients for more care and a nationwide gap between the number of available positions and the number of registered nurses (RN’s) qualified and willing to fill them” ( www.ahrq.gov, 2004). It is interesting that the same issues that are being faced today were an issue in 2004. “A persistent shortage of nursing staff across the United States challenges the belief and values of the profession. Many nurses find it difficult to carry out their ethical obligations to patients due to the insufficiency in staffing. Because of this shortage, many nurses complain that they experience emotional distress and job dissatisfaction and end up not providing quality...
Words: 1783 - Pages: 8
...Can Adequate Nurse Staffing Improve Patient Outcomes? Nursing is more than caring for the sick and injured. It is a twenty-four hour inpatient monitoring system. It is well known that nurses spend significantly more time caring for and looking after patients than any other profession. They routinely monitor and report changing patient conditions around the clock that aid physicians in modifying and updating treatment plans to improve health and prevent complications. The level of safety of hospitalized patients and the degree of quality care that they receive has more to do than fixed nurse-to-patient ratios. It has been well established in the literature that when nursing workload increase to unmanageable levels; weather it be from the addition of patients, increases in acuity and/or care complexity, or from high levels of fluctuation in patient turnover, that nurses ability to perform patient surveillance is disordered, putting patients in undue risk (Needleman, et. al, 2011). Furthermore, excessive workloads contribute to burnout and dissatisfaction leading to nurse attrition that further compounds to the staffing problem. Hospitals need to be held accountable for providing safer nurse staffing levels. Payers and purchasers of care should demand compliance, but should also stimulate better quality and patient safety by providing financial incentives. In addition, a more comprehensive, proactive team approach to nurse staffing can help keep patients safer...
Words: 2937 - Pages: 12
...Lowering Nurse Staffing Ratios The growing need of more nurses in hospitals is becoming an issue in hospitals all over America. The patient’s safety is being put at risk due to the number of nurse to patient ratios (Welton 1). A low nurse to patient ratio will cause a lack of care for the patients. Nurses will have to take on more patients then they are capable of which will affect the health of the patient and the nurse. John M. Welton, an RN (Registered Nurse), said that “the safety of patients is directly related to the size and experience of the nursing staff” (Welton 1). A high nurse to patient ratio can be on the costly side for the hospitals. “Hospitals will not receive any additional revenue for providing more patient care”...
Words: 1421 - Pages: 6
...lives. The nursing profession is founded on caring for others, providing and promoting the health, safety, and well-being of those in need and the best way to do that is with safe nurse-to-patient staffing. This mandate is a win-win for patients, staff, and facility. Patients get best care, staff has job satisfaction, and facility gets decrease costs from benefits that better health care and staff satisfaction will produce. References Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.nationalnursesunited.org/news/entry/state-mandated. Clark, C. (2010, January). Does Mandating Nurse-Patient Ratios Improve Care? Health Leaders Media. Fraughton, H. (2014). Factsheet: Nurse to Patient Ratios are Cost-Effective. Retrieved from http://nsgeu.ca/factsheet-nurse-to-patient-ratios-are-cost. Gordon, S. (2009). Safety in Numbers Nurse-to-Patient Ratios and the Future of Health Care. Retrieved from http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?GCOI=80140100337250 Rosseter, R. (2014). Nursing Shortage. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-relations/fact-sheets/nursing-shortage Shekelle, P. G. (2002). Effect of Nurse-to-Patient Staffing Ratios on Patient Morbidity and Mortality. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0055923/ State Staffing Plans and Ratios. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/Policy-Advocacy/State/Legislative-Agenda-Reports/State-StaffingPlansRatios 12/2014 ANA Nurse-to-Patient...
Words: 943 - Pages: 4
...Safe Staffing McConnell- 2 Safe Staffing Affects Everyone Abstract: Safe staffing is a vital component of quality nursing care. However, oftentimes units in healthcare facilities across the nation lack the personnel that give the units the number of human resources needed to provide safe and sufficient care. A variety of people are affected by unsafe staffing: the actual nurses and ancillary staff, as well as stakeholders such as administrators, government and legislative bodies, and last but not least, the tax payer. The adverse effects of short staffing and the future impending nursing shortage are discussed, along with specific actions that have been taken, and are in the process of implementing, to ensure safe staffing and positive patient outcomes for all states across the United States. Keywords: Safe staffing, nurses, patients, healthcare, problem, nursing shortage Safe Staffing: It Affects Everyone: An Introduction Safe staffing is an essential and vital component of quality care. However, safe nurse to patient ratios are often not met in today's healthcare environment. This paper will describe what safe staffing ratios are, the problems associated with the lack of safe staffing ratios, what some states have enacted to ensure safe staffing, and what the the state of New York is currently projecting to ensure safe staffing is a reality for the future. Safe Staffing McConnell 3 Safe Staffing: A Breakdown: Basically, a healthcare unit, be it a floor...
Words: 1981 - Pages: 8
...Senate as of. History Staff ratio debate originate in California in 1999. In 2004 California became the first state to implement minimum nurse patient ratio. Since then other states have tried to pass legislation on nurse patient ratio In 2005 SB 2965 introduced refer to Health. In 2006 SB 4865 in Health Committee In 2009-2010 A11015 amend to Health Committee In 2011-2012 amend to A921 refer to Ways and means Committee In 2013-2014 amend by adding nine new section and refer to “Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act’ New York is one of the current five state following the legislated daily public reporting/ disclosure of staffing. Legislative regulation This legislative regulation is effective to support a positive environment if the facility is in compliance, because it would decrease some of the workload. Decrease work load leads to less burnout and job satisfaction. Controversial Aspects Nursing profession: Whether Nurse patient ratio would increase interest in nursing career. Increase job satisfaction and...
Words: 482 - Pages: 2
...Safe Staffing Examine Nurse-to-Patient Ratios Primary health care organizations such as New York Presbyterian (NYP) are impacted by low nurse-to-patient ratios. The recent implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has required organizations such as NYP to explore many approaches to improve quality and patient outcomes that contain costs. “Numerous studies reveal an association between higher levels of experienced RN staffing and lower rates of adverse patient outcomes” (www.nursingworld.org, 2015, para. 1). For this reason, nurse-to-patient ratios is an issue that needs to be addressed at NYP in order to improve quality healthcare within their organization. The acuity of the unit in which patient care is being provided, should determine the acceptable nurse-to-patient ratio. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), factors that influence the nurse staffing needs include: patient complexity, acuity, or stability; number of admissions, discharges, and transfers; professional nursing and other staff skill level and expertise; physical space and layout of the nursing unit; availability of or proximity to technological support or other resources ("Optimal Nurse Staffing," 2015). Currently, New York is one of only fourteen states that addresses the nurse staffing issue in hospitals. New York State requires organizations such as NYP to disclose their nurse-to-patient staffing ratios to the public; however the state does not require a minimum...
Words: 3851 - Pages: 16
...Staffing Day to Day The American Nursing Association defines staffing as matching the registered nurse expertise with the needs of patients requiring nursing care services. There are many influences and factors that go into determining the staffing level. There are two different ways of staffing: centralized and decentralized. Centralized staffing is when there is one department responsible for all the units, float staff and on-call staff. Decentralized staffing is when unit leaders or charge nurses, managers, or directors determine the level of staff needed before and during the shift. Staffing nurses is typically set in a 24-48hr window, whereas scheduling can be a month out (Mensik, 2014). In addition to the two different ways of staffing, there are three different models that staffing...
Words: 1531 - Pages: 7
...bedside. As a result of this nurses and patients are suffering. Kariben (2017) goes on to describe some of the profit driven cuts, one of the major cuts being nurse staffing. Poor nurse staffing has been directly linked to poor patient outcomes. The Minnesota Department of Health (2015) found, “strong evidence that...
Words: 750 - Pages: 3
...One of the current issues in nursing today is whether or not there should be mandatory nurse-patient ratios. The article titled, “Mandatory Nurse-Patient Ratios” discusses the controversy about whether there should be mandatory ratios and how they can affect nurses and patient outcomes. Currently the state of California is the only state in the United States with mandatory nurse-patient ratios while 17 others have introduced legislation. Since California has passed legislation in 2005 there has not been any experimental evidence reported to support these ratios with more desirable patient outcomes. One of the positive outcomes for nurses is that it has made more jobs available but unfortunately has increased their workload because employers are reducing the number of ancillary staff which can lead to increased stress and burnout. The mandatory nurse-patient ratios claim to address the imbalance between patient needs and nursing resources but do not address the different levels of complex treatment required among patients. Nurses must understand their importance and advocate effectively for themselves and their patients. Providing quality research, lobbying, collaborating among members of the healthcare team and becoming more powerful with the help of special interest groups will help to make employers responsible for their legal obligations. This issue will affect me professionally because I am about to graduate from nursing school and will be actively looking for a position...
Words: 446 - Pages: 2
...assist in the redefinition of nursing roles and eventually the adaption of a new nursing model. The new nursing model requires ongoing, detailed, and process driven education to establish and clarify the change objectives and new nursing roles. Quantitative and qualitative data collected from numerous sources, in conjunction with unit-based round tables, individual patients, nurse managers, and administrative interviews allows for consideration of multiple stakeholders. When patients vocalize a positive experience with services provided, this information helps to shape the new roles and responsibilities for the nursing teams. Proposed Change After the second California Medicare Services survey in 2013 major nursing deficiencies were highlighted between K Hospital’s patient acuities and the current staffing mix. In response to these specific deficiencies and under corporate direction an after action process improvement team was formed. Comprised of a regional chief clinical officer, a district resource chief clinical officer, three nursing unit managers, director of quality management, director of infection control and the director of education the team examined the survey findings and determined three areas of action needed....
Words: 1433 - Pages: 6
...Changing the staffing matrix to staffing based on acuity and reducing the unit department’s acquired pressure ulcers will greatly contribute to patient safety and patient/nurse satisfaction. Goal 1: Leadership Development A major problem of the health care system today is the heavy workload of the hospital nurses. Nurses are experiencing job dissatisfaction and burnout due to three main reasons: increased patient acuity, inadequate nursing staff, and higher workload. Staffing by patient acuity is safer for patients. It decreases the heavy patient workload and eliminate overtime. It will also increase the nurse’s job satisfaction and create better patient outcome. The article “Safe Staffing Saves Lives” mentions, “insufficient nurse staffing has been linked with poor patient outcomes, longer hospital stays and increased risk of patient mortality” (2011, p. 16, para. 2). The article summarized how the American Nurses Association (ANA) introduced the formal legislation that required “hospitals that participate in Medicare to form committees that compromised of at least 55% direct care nurses” (“Safe Staffing Saves Lives,” 2011, p. 16, para. 2). Now the ANA has proposed a guideline to solve the nurse-staffing crisis. The ANA’s guideline requires hospitals to set nurse staffing based on five changing condition: patient acuity, patient numbers, nurse skills and experience, support staff, and technology. The guideline promotes staffing by patient acuity, which leads to staffing flexibility...
Words: 1403 - Pages: 6
...Background Last minute sick calls by staff at California University Hospital (CaUH) increases operational costs. Since the hospital needs to provide 24 hour nursing coverage and adhere to mandated staffing ratios, this results in staff callbacks, increased overtime, and the need to outsource staffing to outside agencies. Business Problem California law mandates specific nurse to patient ratios based on patient acuity, location, and population served. Although there is a budget allocated to “backfilling” and replacing employees that are on vacation or protected leaves of absence, over utilization results in the creation of a variance that exceeds the allocated budget. The desire of this learning team is to find ways to not only decrease sick call utilization but decrease the operational payroll dollars required to maintain proper staffing levels. Role of the Team The team will assess the current Attendance Policy and look at the employee attendance calendars to identify trends and patterns associated with last minute sick call. Factors may be department specific, hours/shifts worked, full-time vs. part-time, recent denial of time off requests, etc.. This data will be collected and analyzed into a summary with statistical techniques applied. Research Question from Independent and Dependent Variables Our management dilemma began when a manager asked if they are over budget in premium dollars due to excessive last minute sick call replacement coverage. We formulated...
Words: 384 - Pages: 2
