Inadequate Staffing Ratios in Nursing - Essay Example

Inadequate Staffing Ratios in Nursing Inadequate Staffing Ratios in nursing is a major problem facing the healthcare field today. Over the past years hospitals have recorded high vacancy rates of registered nurses (RNs). Nursing shortage "reflects fundamental changes in population demographics, career expectations, work attitudes and worker dissatisfaction" according to the American Hospital Association. This situation is not expected to get any better soon even as research conducted by the federal government warn of a possible increase to about 800,000 or 29% by 2020.

This comes at a time when the demand for nurses is on rise and is in fact expected to take a 40% rise. There is a growing concern over this issue considering the fact that many solutions offered depict some weaknesses. Fist, the decision to increase nurse ratio has been linked to struggles between cost benefit and cost effectiveness. Studies conducted by Reiter et al (2012), to reveal the financial performance encompassing the direct cost of nursing leaves a lot to tell. According to his research about 80% of this performance equaled the remunerations and benefits, 44% comprised inpatient care costs, and 30% reflected hospital expenditures.

Given this data one can easily deduce why the state government is struggling with insufficient budget to support adequate nurse to patient ratios. Secondly, there an increased uncertainty on how new healthcare reform will affect ratios. Reiter, Harless and Mark (2012) study on California’s assembly bill (AB394), showed an increase of 20% daily nursing hours and estimated its cost to be about $168,000 to $2.3 over the following five years. With such costs, the general public (the patients included) is expected to pay heavily if this ratio is to be met.

Finally, there is increased concern for the lower number of graduate from the nursing program. Medical schools across the nation depicted low student registration, a factor that has been linked to the current problems facing the nursing field. This deficit is made even worse considering the fact that a large segment of the nursing workforce is nearing retirement age.ReferencesReiter, K. L., Harless, D. W., Pink, G. H., & Mark, B. A. (2011). Minimum Nurse Staffing Legislation and the Financial Performance of California Hospitals.

Health Services Research, 56, n/a-n/a.