Evaluating Nurse-to-Patient Ratio Legislation - Essay Example

Nurse-to-Patient Ratio legislation Nurse-to-Patient Ratio legislation Introduction Nurse staffing is a complex issue that needsto be addressed with immediate effect in California. However, all the stakeholders involved in this issue have put all their effort in order to come up with a long term solution to the problem (Aiken, Sloane, Smith, & Seago, 2010). A number of researches that have been conducted by various institutions have indicated that when the level of these employees is increased, most of them achieve job satisfaction. The kind of legislation that is proposed to be enacted in New York in favor of California has both merits and demerits. The problem of nurse staffing has been a consistent problem since the year 1996. However, it needs to be addressed since patients nowadays know their rights as they are better informed that earlier about their health. Other issues have also contributed into finding a solution for this problem. This includes high levels of acuity, the amounts allocated by the national budget to this sector and finally the retirement age of employees in this profession (Buerhaus, 2009). Understaffing in government institutions has brought about so many problems that affect the well being of both patients and nurses who are meant to take care of them. These problems mostly arise when these nurses work for long hours. This can lead to patients’ mortality as nurses have a significant number of patients to attend to. In such a case, it is difficult for a nurse to detect any change in the health of the patient and consult a doctor. Secondly, it has led to increasing in the number of infections that are acquired in the hospitals by nurses in the course of their duty (Clark, 2005). This is mostly associated with poor working conditions and lack of the required equipments to perform their duties. This has been a consistent problem in most hospitals hence it should be addressed with immediate effect. Understaffing also causes shock among nurses and as well as bloodstream infections. This is because they receive and admit patients with different illnesses. Due to their limited number, a nurse might be overwhelmed by the complicated and challenging tasks. Hence, this policy if enacted will be of great help to both nurses and patients of this country. Finally, it has also caused psychological problems among nurses. This is because these nurses work for long hours, and they have limited time to take care of themselves. A large number of them in the country spend most of their time taking care of patients in hospitals. Hence, sometimes they may be depressed when they see the conditions of the patients. Results of implementation of this policy in New York When the legislators in New York pass this policy, a number of issues will be solved. Primarily, the number of these employees, which are monitored by the department of health, will be increased (Douglas, 2010). This will be an added advantage to patients seeking medication in these federal institutions as they will be handled in a better way. This is because when the number of nurses is increased, they will be able to attend to patients on time especially those on intensive care unit. Secondly, the amounts allocated in the national budget will be easily monitored and be accounted for. Many employees in this sector have always complained due to low salaries which they receive. This happens despite them overtime and under unfavorable working conditions. Hence, the amounts allocated to this sector should be used to increase the level of salaries of these nurses in different job groups and according to their level of experience in the field. Further, they should receive overtime payment as it is their right. Representatives of the federal government in California should also aim at improving the working environment of these nurses. This means provision of all equipments and safety tools, which they work with in the course of duty. This will help prevent the problem of disease transmission from patient to nurses in these hospitals (Elizabeth, David. N, David, & Kathy, 2014). Further, the issue of retired nurses will also be solved. Most of the nurses who have retired may choose to obtain licenses for private practice. The process involved in acquiring such a license is always hectic. Hence, when this policy is enacted, the procedure for this process will be clearly stipulated. Rather, the state can also re-employ them to help solve this issue of staffing in federal hospitals. This is because most of them have experience in this field, and they possess the required skills. It is only age, which is a hindrance, but the state government can reconsider them. Impact of implementation of this policy in New York When this policy is enacted, various stakeholders in this sector will enjoy a number of benefits that were not available before (Linda, Sean P., & Douglas, 2002). This means that they will be impacted positively. The following is the expected impact to different parties: Impact to the hospitals When the issue of staffing of the nurses working in all federal hospitals is solved, the quality of patient service will be improved. In most cases, nurses working in these hospitals are mostly understaffed. This makes them work for long hours with minimal pay. Their minimum number also contributed to increasing in patient mortality issues. This is because patients have no one to attend to them on time. This has affected most federal hospitals; hence, ablest citizens of a higher economic class tend to seed medical services in private hospitals. It is the role of the federal government to ensure that all citizens receive quality medical care in these institutions. Hence, hospitals are set to benefit when the number of nurses working there is increased to the required level. This also requires the support from the federal government by increasing amount allocated to this sector in the national budget in every financial year. More funds will be required to provide all the equipments required by nurses in the course of their duty. Salaries and other benefits need to be given to these nurses in order to motivate them. The government also needs to improve their working environment by ensuring that it is environmental human friendly. Nurse shortage Enactment of this policy in this state will lead to increase in a number of patient in these hospitals. This is because the policy will ensure that the right the number of employees is posted in federal hospitals. Thus, this will help solve the problem of a nursing shortage. This means that patients will be attended on time in these hospitals, unlike today where the ratio of nurse-to-patient is not favorable. Their quality of service offered will also improve significantly when members of staff are enough. Further, the rate of patient mortality especially those in intensive care unit will decrease as the doctors attending to patients will have enough number of nurses to work with. When the legislators pass this policy, it might consider re-absorption of retired nurses’ back to service. This is because they still have the expertise and experience working in this field. However, the government must consider better benefits and working environment for them. This will boost their morale, and promote them to offer better services to patients. They absorption will also help solve the issue of staff shortage in the federal hospitals. Patient care When the right number of nurses is present in the hospitals, service delivery will be undoubtedly improve. Shortage in the number of nurses contributes to increasing in mortality rate in most hospitals. This is because patients have no one to attend to them appropriately in cases of emergencies. In addition, doctors face challenges especially when performing operations to patient when they have a limited number of nurses working with them. Patients also die in their wards in cases of inpatient services, as nurses are few to keep on attending to them. Most of these nurses are mostly overworked in such scenarios; hence, they fail to offer better services to these patients. Hence, increase in nurse staffing will lead to improvement of patient care in federal hospitals. This is because there will be enough employees to attend to all patients in all wards on time. Increase in their number and salaries will act as a source of motivation to them. Hence, they will offer better services. It is the mandate of the federal government to ensure that all citizens receive better care in these hospitals. Hence, this policy will be of great help in improving the welfare of all citizens. My opinion This policy means a lot to the health sector in New York and the whole country in general. The issue of low nurse-to-patient ratio has been a significant challenge to this sector. Hence, the legislators have done an excellent job by formulating a policy to solve this challenge. This is the right thing to do as it will improve the welfare of all citizens. When the policy is implemented, a lot is set to change. The quality of service delivery will improve significantly in these hospitals. This is because number of nurses working there will be increased; it will take less time for patients to be attended to in cases of emergencies. This will help in reducing the rate of mortality in these hospitals. However, the federal government must chip in by increasing the amounts allocated to this sector in the national budget. This will be used in increasing salaries of nurses as well as providing equipments and resources needed by the nurses. However, they must also monitor the services offered by nurses in these hospitals to ensure transparency. The international federation of nurses should also set standards for the government and all employment agencies to ensure that the interest of nurses is well taken care of in their working environment. This will be a significant boost to their profession and a source of motivation. Reason why the policy should be implemented It is the role of the federal government to ensure that all citizens receive quality care in federal hospitals. This means that they should be served better in cases of emergencies. It also means that the problem of nurse staffing will be solved once and for all. The requirements and standards will be clearly stipulated in the policy which should be adopted with immediate effect by all stakeholders. The federal government should play its role by ensuring that the resources required are provided in all hospitals. Further, the body governing all nurses should also be in the forefront to ensure that nurses deliver what is expected of them to patients. References Aiken, L., Sloane, D., Smith, H., & Seago, J. (2010). Implication of California nurse staffing mandate for other states. Health Service Research, 904-921. Buerhaus, P. (2009). Avoiding mandatory hospital nurse staffing ratios: An economic commentary. Nursing Outlook, 107-112. Clark, S. (2005). The policy Implication of staffing-outcomes research. Journal of Nursing Administration, 17-19. Douglas, K. (2010). Ratios - If only it were that easy. Nursing Economics, 119-121. Elizabeth, W., David. N, B., David, H., & Kathy, R. (2014). Nurse staffinf, medical staffing and mortality in intensive care: An observational study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 781-794. Linda, H., Sean P., C., & Douglas, M. S. (2002). Hospital Nurse Staffing and Patient Mortality, Nurse Burnout, and Job Satisfaction. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 1-6. Read More