Nurse Staffing Ratio Analysis
Nurse Staffing Ratios
In the United States, nurses constitute the largest percentage among the total workforce of the healthcare system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2013) reported that there were almost 3.3 million registered nurses and licensed practice nurses employed in nursing between 2008 and 2010. Nurses are very important part of healthcare delivery system and ensure operation of healthcare facilities. They have the greatest contact and direct involvement with the patient care as compare to any other healthcare professionals. Thus, they have a significant role in providing quality and safe care to patient (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2015).
At present, nurses are inadequately employed in the healthcare …show more content…
to implement optimal nurse-to-patient ratio. However, the California took a first step and became the first state to implement regulation for minimum licensed nurse-to-patient ratio per unit in acute care hospitals in 2004 (Donaldson et al., 2006). Donaldson et al. (2006) mentioned that the mandated nurse-to-patient ratio on step down units is 1:3, telemetry units is 1:4, speciality units 1:4, critical care unit is 1:2, pediatric unit is 1:4, and emergency department is 1:4. It was reported that after the implementation of minimum nurse staffing ratio there were no statistically significant improvement on quality of care and patient safety. There were no changes on patient outcomes such as fall incidence, incidence of pressure ulcer, and use of restraint. Currently, there are 13 other states which had mandated the minimum ratios and they are Cincinnati, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texan, Vermont, and Washington (ANA, 2015). There is plethora of studies on the nurse staffing ratios and its impact on nurses, patient outcomes, quality of care, and patient safety, however there is discrepancy on findings. Therefore, a further research is needed to understand the impact of minimum nurse-patient
In the United States, nurses constitute the largest percentage among the total workforce of the healthcare system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2013) reported that there were almost 3.3 million registered nurses and licensed practice nurses employed in nursing between 2008 and 2010. Nurses are very important part of healthcare delivery system and ensure operation of healthcare facilities. They have the greatest contact and direct involvement with the patient care as compare to any other healthcare professionals. Thus, they have a significant role in providing quality and safe care to patient (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2015).
At present, nurses are inadequately employed in the healthcare …show more content…
to implement optimal nurse-to-patient ratio. However, the California took a first step and became the first state to implement regulation for minimum licensed nurse-to-patient ratio per unit in acute care hospitals in 2004 (Donaldson et al., 2006). Donaldson et al. (2006) mentioned that the mandated nurse-to-patient ratio on step down units is 1:3, telemetry units is 1:4, speciality units 1:4, critical care unit is 1:2, pediatric unit is 1:4, and emergency department is 1:4. It was reported that after the implementation of minimum nurse staffing ratio there were no statistically significant improvement on quality of care and patient safety. There were no changes on patient outcomes such as fall incidence, incidence of pressure ulcer, and use of restraint. Currently, there are 13 other states which had mandated the minimum ratios and they are Cincinnati, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texan, Vermont, and Washington (ANA, 2015). There is plethora of studies on the nurse staffing ratios and its impact on nurses, patient outcomes, quality of care, and patient safety, however there is discrepancy on findings. Therefore, a further research is needed to understand the impact of minimum nurse-patient