Nurse Staffing Case Study
1. Discuss TWO of the following staffing/scheduling practices and how they can support patient care:
With the best healthcare organizations, we have today, staffing and scheduling are very challenging issues that these organizations still face. Researchers from the last 10 years or so shows the importance of adequate registered nurse staffing in accomplishing good patient outcomes, safety, and satisfaction. Better RN staffing and not too overworked, have been shown to reduce patient mortality, enhance outcomes, and improve nurse satisfaction. “One study found that for each additional patient assigned to a given nurse, the patient has a 7% increase in the likelihood of dying within 30 days of admission and a 7% increase of failure to rescue.” …show more content…
Centralized staffing is fair, even though manager’s role is limited, the manager can still communicate any needs of staffing to cover patient needs depending on illnesses and patient status changes. For decentralized staffing, the unit manager knows the staff’s need personally as well as professionally which can help the unit manager decide in regards to patient care as well. “Advantages of decentralized staffing are that the unit manager understands the needs of the unit and staff intimately, which leads to the increased likelihood that sound staffing decisions will be …show more content…
Overtime
Overtime should be an option offered to nurses. I think when an overtime becomes a mandatory to nurses or any staffs, this results to fatigue, overworked, and resentment. Not everyone can do overtime, but giving it as an option and who wants to do increases the chances of having a happy nurse and a nurse giving its best care possible to patient.
When I worked for a medical group, my manager would leave it to the staff to decide which day(s) in a week they can do overtime and for how long. We had staffs that have kids or single parents and they need to go home right after work. However, if a staff commits to a day or two or more, they need to make sure that they work the day(s) that they have signed up for or find someone to cover for them, if they cannot, it will result to verbal or write up. Which leaves the staff feeling in control of their schedule and I see them happier and willing to work.
2. Discuss organizational policies that help to support fair/equitable staffing practices, including holiday
With the best healthcare organizations, we have today, staffing and scheduling are very challenging issues that these organizations still face. Researchers from the last 10 years or so shows the importance of adequate registered nurse staffing in accomplishing good patient outcomes, safety, and satisfaction. Better RN staffing and not too overworked, have been shown to reduce patient mortality, enhance outcomes, and improve nurse satisfaction. “One study found that for each additional patient assigned to a given nurse, the patient has a 7% increase in the likelihood of dying within 30 days of admission and a 7% increase of failure to rescue.” …show more content…
Centralized staffing is fair, even though manager’s role is limited, the manager can still communicate any needs of staffing to cover patient needs depending on illnesses and patient status changes. For decentralized staffing, the unit manager knows the staff’s need personally as well as professionally which can help the unit manager decide in regards to patient care as well. “Advantages of decentralized staffing are that the unit manager understands the needs of the unit and staff intimately, which leads to the increased likelihood that sound staffing decisions will be …show more content…
Overtime
Overtime should be an option offered to nurses. I think when an overtime becomes a mandatory to nurses or any staffs, this results to fatigue, overworked, and resentment. Not everyone can do overtime, but giving it as an option and who wants to do increases the chances of having a happy nurse and a nurse giving its best care possible to patient.
When I worked for a medical group, my manager would leave it to the staff to decide which day(s) in a week they can do overtime and for how long. We had staffs that have kids or single parents and they need to go home right after work. However, if a staff commits to a day or two or more, they need to make sure that they work the day(s) that they have signed up for or find someone to cover for them, if they cannot, it will result to verbal or write up. Which leaves the staff feeling in control of their schedule and I see them happier and willing to work.
2. Discuss organizational policies that help to support fair/equitable staffing practices, including holiday