The decrease of nurses and rise in patient have a substantial influence on patient safety. In the study, I attempt to answer the PICOT question: does a 1:4 patient nurse ratio on a medical, surgical ward improve patient outcomes over a year? The goal of this study is to see if peer review of the literature supports a nurse-patient ratio that is particular and minimum for a high-risk patient, and to see if the association between nurse staffing ratio and hospital-related mortality is consistent. and to develop a testable framework that will show how an increase in staff can impact on the outcome of a patient.
The increase of competent staff has a direct influence on improving the standards of living. It increases the life expectancy and decreases the mortality level. High-quality services in hospitals increase optimism levels of patients, and these affects how they respond to drugs. It is important for all hospitals to have adequate personnel to save lives.
Keywords: mortality rates, high-risk patient, nurse-patient ratio.
Picot Statement
PICOT Question
Does a 1:4 compared to 1:8 patient nurse ratio on a medical, surgical floor improve patient outcomes over a year-long period? The issue of inadequate personnel remains a major problem in many hospitals. The nurse patient ratio is low, and it is becoming more evident that high-risk patients that require adequate care are at a risk of losing their lives. This trend is worrying. Consequently, appropriate measures should be put in place to save lives. The health sector risks nurses leaving the profession. These could be attributed to poor remuneration packages and long working hours which lower the morale of nurses. The impact is premature and leads negligent deaths that could not happen. The stakeholders should, therefore, incorporate standards that ensure the nurse to patient ratios is appropriate. It will result in positive outcomes for patients, as nurses are involved in the daily care of patients (Wise, 2016). The presence of 1:4 compared to 1:8 patient nurse ratio on a medical, surgical floor will improve the patient outcomes over a year-long period.
The impact of nurse staffing on the patient and hospital outcomes. High nurse staffing has an impact on quality of services offered to patients. Small staff lowers the quality of services. It increases the workload and reduces the efficiency rate of the health practitioner (Wise, 2016). Decrease on the workload will increase the efficiency. It will impact the hospital outcomes positively.
The effect of the nurse to patient staffing ratio on mortality of patients. The increase in death rates is a result of reduced and poor services from hospitals. The number of nurses and level of patients in hospitals is inversely related. Most of the patients are left unattended. This increases the mortality rates. The solution to decreasing the mortality rates is encouraging more people to join the profession (Straiton, 2011). These factors, if implemented by the various stakeholders in the health industry could save critical lives.
The impact of safe nurse staffing on hospitals. There is an increase in many emergency situations in hospitals. Inadequate staff enhances the risk of patients developing complications. Therefore, hospitals should maintain an absolute minimum of the nurse to patient ratio (Straiton, 2011). This not only improves the quality of services but also reduces the risk of developing complications that could result in loss of life.
Understaffing endangers nurses and patients. As illustrated herein, there is a correlation between understaffing and patient outcomes. The nurse to patient ratio is significant. When few nurses work for long hours, it may lead to sicker patients and nurses may develop occupation health hazards as a result of straining at work (Mason & Isaacs, 2011).
Safe staffing ratios reduce financial burden in hospitals. The inputs affect the quality of results. Adequate staff are profitable to hospitals in the long run. It improves the performance of the nurses and lowers the mortality rates. The decrease in death rates increases the turnover rate to hospitals increasing the cash flows.
Retention of nurses in the hospitals requires safe staffing ratios. Adequate remuneration packages retain experienced nurses. It may lure those who have left the profession back to work. It also attracts students to the profession. The increase in the number of nurses reduces the workload in hospitals (Mason, & Isaacs, 2011). It improves the level of care to patients who reported in hospitals.
Conclusion
An adequate nursing patient ratio is important for hospitals and patients. This saves lives and motivates those in the profession. Good working conditions are, therefore, necessary for the nurse, patient and hospital outcomes. Significantly, this could increase the life expectancy as more patients survive due to improved standards of care in hospitals.
References
Mason, D., & Isaacs, S. (2011). Nursing Profession (1st ed.). Jossey-Bass.
Straiton, J. (2011). Unison nurse-to-patient ratio campaign merits our support. Nursing Standard, 25(38), 33-33. http://dx.doi.org/10.7748/ns2011.05.25.38.33.p5365
Wise, J. (2016). Higher nurse to patient ratio is linked to reduced risk of inpatient death. BMJ, i797. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i797
