100% satisfaction guarantee Immediately available after payment Both online and in PDF No strings attached
Previously searched by you
Summary C159 Assessment .docx Policy, Politics, and Global Health Trends Western Governors University Policy, Politics, and Global Health Trends Policy Proposal Public Policy Issue Patients, providers, and healthcare organizations are all affected by pu$4.99
Add to cart
Summary C159 Assessment .docx Policy, Politics, and Global Health Trends Western Governors University Policy, Politics, and Global Health Trends Policy Proposal Public Policy Issue Patients, providers, and healthcare organizations are all affected by pu
19 views 1 purchase
Course
University Of Phoenix UoP
Institution
University Of Phoenix
C159 Assessment .docx Policy, Politics, and Global Health Trends Western Governors University Policy, Politics, and Global Health Trends Policy Proposal Public Policy Issue Patients, providers, and healthcare organizations are all affected by public policy issues. Mishandled public policy...
rates, and nurse burnout (Lang, Hodge, Olson, Romano, & Kravitz, 2004). Patients and nurses
both are affected by nurse-patient ratios. With an increased nurse-patient ratio, the safety of the
patient is put at risk and there is an increased likelihood for errors to be made. Not only do high
nurse-patient ratios lead to increased errors and adverse events, but nurses are also quicker to
experience burnout and therefore staff turnover rates increase. Currently, in the state of Texas,
the Texas Board of Nursing (BON) holds no authority over nurse staffing ratios although the
standards of care require charge nurses to consider patient safety and nursing skill competency,
experience, knowledge, and educational preparation when assembling nurse-patient assignments
(Texas Board of Nursing, 2020). The standards of care also make the nurse responsible for only
accepting patient assignments of which they feel are manageable (Texas Board of Nursing,
2020). Therefore, this is a proposal for a Texas policy to propose a decrease to the nurse-to-
patient ratio set to one nurse to four med/surg patients to improve patient safety and outcomes in
the state of Texas.
Issue Selection
, 3
POLICY, POLITICS, AND GLOBAL HEALTH TRENDS
This public policy issue was chosen because it is an ongoing matter that directly affects
me andmy coworkers. The healthcare organization that I work for currently has no policy or
regulations regarding safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. As a nurse working on a
surgical/oncology unit, it is not uncommon for me to be responsible for the care of six patients at
a time. Although our unit is considered a medical/surgical unit, the patients that we care for are
often quite critical and must be watched closely, especially considering the acuteness and amount
of post-operational patients we care for. This current practice is unsafe. The nights that I come to
work and see my assignment is beginning with five or six patients I am immediately
overwhelmed and often feel unable to provide the patients with the meticulous and passionate
care they need and deserve, simply due to a lack of time and inability to be multiple places at
once. Throughout the 12-hour shift, the primary nurse is responsible for completing a thorough
assessment of the patient, administering all medications, documenting all care, and providing
passionate and patient-centered nursing care for each of their assigned patients. Completing these
tasks while maintaining a safe environment and diligent nursing care for six patients can be
demanding. There is an increased opportunity for error when caring for an increased number of
patients. The given circumstances put the health and safety of both the patient and nurse at
compromise. This issue is not only present in my place of employment but affects
med/surgnursing care throughout the state of Texas.
Issue Relevance
This public policy issue affects the health of both patients and nursing professionals
making it a relevant issue that requires some attention. The staffing of nurses strongly influences
patient outcomes and job satisfaction for nurses. Appropriate nurse-patient ratios and adequate
staffing have been associated with reduced mortality, medication errors, pressure ulcers, use of
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller helperatsof1. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $4.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
