NURS 6053 ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO SUPPORT HEALTHCARE ISSUES
NURS 6053 ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO SUPPORT HEALTHCARE ISSUES
Competing needs, such as those of the workforce, the resources at hand, and patients, heavily impact the creation of healthcare policy to meet national healthcare concerns. Examining the specific mix of a nursing shortage, Emergency Department (ED) boarders, and nurse travelers in the ED reveals how these competing requirements drive policy creation and how policies might meet them.
Competing needs, especially those of healthcare professionals, significantly impact healthcare policy. The nursing shortage is a critical concern that directly affects policy development. The existing nursing staff is strained when there are not enough nurses to satisfy the increasing patient care demands (Drennan & Ross, 2019). Nurses frequently face burnout, weariness, and increasing workload, which can decrease the standard of care. Policymakers must examine steps towards achieving these competing objectives to ensure enough staffing levels, promote a positive working atmosphere, and address nurse workforce challenges.
Additionally, regulations should prioritize increasing nurse-to-patient ratios to alleviate the nursing shortage, making room for more manageable workloads and improving patient safety (Drennan & Ross, 2019). Increased financing for nursing education and training applications and creating incentives to attract and retain nurses can help achieve this goal. Policies that encourage tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness, and opportunities for professional growth can assist in easing the nursing shortage while improving nurse work satisfaction (Yang & Mason,2022). By putting nurses’ well-being first, these policies can enhance patient results while contributing to an overall enhancement in the level of care administered.
Another competing need that substantially impacts policy formulation is limited resources. In the setting of ED borders, where patients are detained in the emergency department as a result of a shortage of readily accessible inpatient beds, resource constraints become apparent. ED borders put pressure on resources and accessible space in the ED, leading to service delays and increased patient discontent (Pearce et al.,2023). Effective policies must address these restrictions and streamline resource allocation to provide effective and prompt patient care.
In addition, policies to reduce ED wait times should prioritize increased hospital capacity and expediting the admission procedure. It could include infrastructure improvements, such as the construction of new institutions or the expansion of existing ones, to meet the increased number of patients (Yang & Mason,2022). Furthermore, regulations should emphasize the necessity of excellent collaboration between the ED and inpatient facilities to ensure that patients move smoothly. Policies that optimize resource allocation and boost capacity can minimize ED boarding times, increase the flow of patients, and enhance the general standard of care.
Furthermore, Patient requirements are an essential component in creating healthcare policies. Access to care, quality services, and positive results are critical to effectively addressing patient needs. Policies in the ED for nurse travelers must find a balance between fulfilling patient demands and protecting staff stability (Pearce et al.,2023). While nurse travelers can help fill staffing gaps temporarily, protocols should promote continuity of care and minimize disruptions. Regulating nurse traveler programs to ensure proper training and orientation is critical. Policies can sustain the quality of patient care by properly integrating nurse travelers into the existing healthcare team. In addition, policy should consider systems for monitoring and evaluating the effect of nurse travelers on patient outcomes, and staffing tactics should be adjusted accordingly.
In a nutshell, competing needs impact the formation of healthcare policies. When tackling the national healthcare issue of nursing shortages, ED borders, and nurse travelers in the ED, the policy must strike a delicate balance between workforce needs, resource limits, and patient needs. Policymakers can effectively handle these competing needs by establishing particular regulations, like as improving nurse-to-patient ratios, expanding hospital capacity, and controlling nurse traveler programs. The goal is to build a healthcare system with enough staff, efficiently allocates resources, and prioritize patient-centered treatment. Policymakers may work toward an effective and financially viable healthcare system that serves the requirements of all stakeholders by taking these competing needs into account and implementing appropriate regulations.
References
Drennan, V. M., & Ross, F. (2019). Global nurse shortages: the facts, the impact and action for change. British medical bulletin, 130(1), 25-37.
Pearce, S., Marchand, T., Shannon, T., Ganshorn, H., & Lang, E. (2023). Emergency department crowding: an overview of reviews describing measures causes, and harms. Internal and Emergency Medicine, 1-22.
Yang, Y. T., & Mason, D. J. (2022). COVID-19 impacts nursing shortages, the rise of travel nurses, and price gouging. Health Affairs Forefront.
