NURS 6053- Week 3 Discussion Organizational Policies and Practices to Support Healthcare Issues
NURS 6053- Week 3 Discussion Organizational Policies and Practices to Support Healthcare Issues
Quite often, nurse leaders are faced with ethical dilemmas, such as those associated with choices between competing needs and limited resources. Resources are finite, and competition for those resources occurs daily in all organizations.
NURS 6053- Week 3 Discussion Organizational Policies and Practices to Support Healthcare Issues
For example, the use of 12-hour shifts has been a strategy to retain nurses. However, evidence suggests that as nurses work more hours in a shift, they commit more errors. How do effective leaders find a balance between the needs of the organization and the needs of ensuring quality, effective, and safe patient care?
In this Discussion, you will reflect on a national healthcare issue and examine how competing needs may impact the development of polices to address that issue.
To Prepare:
Review the Resources and think about the national healthcare issue/stressor you previously selected for study in Module 1.
Reflect on the competing needs in healthcare delivery as they pertain to the national healthcare issue/stressor you previously examined.
Discussion: Organizational Policies and Practices to Support Healthcare Issues
Quite often, nurse leaders are faced with ethical dilemmas, such as those associated with choices between competing needs and limited resources. Resources are finite, and competition for those resources occurs daily in all organizations.
For example, the use of 12-hour shifts has been a strategy to retain nurses. However, evidence suggests that as nurses work more hours in a shift, they commit more errors. How do effective leaders find a balance between the needs of the organization and the needs of ensuring quality, effective, and safe patient care?
In this Discussion, you will reflect on a national healthcare issue and examine how competing needs may impact the development of polices to address that issue.
To Prepare:
- Review the Resources and think about the national healthcare issue/stressor you previously selected for study in Module 1.
- Reflect on the competing needs in healthcare delivery as they pertain to the national healthcare issue/stressor you previously examined.
By Day 3 of Week 3
Post an explanation of how competing needs, such as the needs of the workforce, resources, and patients, may impact the development of policy. Then, describe any specific competing needs that may impact the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected. What are the impacts, and how might policy address these competing needs? Be specific and provide examples.
By Day 6 of Week 3
Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days by providing additional thoughts about competing needs that may impact your colleagues’ selected issues, or additional ideas for applying policy to address the impacts described.
Competing needs arise within any organization as healthcare workers seek to meet their targets and leaders seek to meet hospital goals. Either targets or goals require establishing priorities and allocating resources. For example, a policy addressing adequate nurse staffing is essential to meet the patient and workforce needs while minimizing hospital cost. However, utilizing in more nursing staff might result in economic inefficiencies along with misallocated resources.
The shortage of staff is connected with negative impacts; including lower quality and quantity of care because there are few resources to offer. Work overload to the existing nurses lead to burnout, and eventually compromising patient safety. Nursing shortage policies are constantly supported by current literature and they vary from country to country. However, there is continuous effort to modify certain aspect such as pay agreements, emergency hiring plans and RN residency programs to improve working environment for nurses (Park & Yu, 2019). Nurses should also voice their opinion on ways to resolve competing needs; the culture of silence creates a culture of acceptance and continues to suppress nursing professional knowledge (Kelly & Porr, 2018).
Competing needs that may impact nursing shortage is aging population in which baby boomer entering the age of increased need for health services. Which would require more students to enroll into the nursing program today and hire more educators to provide students with proper training. Another contributing factor is nurse burnout, statistics shows a national turnover rates is 8.8% to 37% (Lisa et al., 2020). Nurses are experiencing burnout daily and leaving the profession for better opportunities or advancing in their career. Ensure an optimal nurse to patient ratios to improve nurse staffing and improve quality of care delivered. Lastly, workload and work environment has forced hospitals to reduce staffing and implement mandatory overtime polices to ensure nurses would be available to work when the number of patients admitted increased unexpectedly. Furthermore, increase the workload to decrease on health care costs.
A policy might address these competing needs by ensuring an optimal nurse to patient ratio which can improve care outcomes for patients and ensure patient safety. Healthcare policymakers’ involvement in developing a staffing policy in every organization to improve working conditions (such as working hours, violence in workplace, managing workload) for the nurses staff to improve competencies and better job satisfaction. Ensure adequate government funding to allocate resources for training and clinical skills without causing strains on the government and organization budget. Also, devote resources toward increasing nurses wages; a token of appreciation for their dedicated and hard work.
References
Haddad, L.M., Annamaraju, P., & Toney-Butler, T.J. (2020). Nursing Shortage. Retrieved June 15, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493175/
Kelly, P., & Porr, C. (2018). Ethical nursing care versus cost containment: Considerations to enhance RN practice. OJIN: Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(1), Manuscript 6. doi: 10.3912/OJIN. Vol23No01Man06. Retrieved from http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-23-2018/No1-Jan-2018/Ethical-Nursing-Cost-Containment.html
Park, H., & Yu, S. (2019). Effective policies for eliminating nursing workforce shortages: A systematic review. In Health Policy and Technology, 8(3), 296-303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlpt.2019.08.003
How competing needs may impact the development of a policy
Competing needs in healthcare result in demands for necessities, not meeting the supply for these necessities. Some developmental challenges impacting Healthcare policies include workforce, resources, and patients. For a healthcare organization to strive, there must be adequate resources. These resources will include equipment and competent human resources/workforce. Workforce poses a competing need issue in healthcare policy in staffing, compensation, and training. Aging and Shortage of workforce influence the provision of high-quality patient care. In terms of staffing, it is tough to make an appropriate nursing shift schedule when there are inadequate or incompetent nurses, which affects patient care. As a charge Nurse in a medical ICU, there have been several times patients’ dialysis schedules have been postponed to the next shift due to the availability of nurses to provide care. Patients’ needs may include access to readily affordable quality care provided by an appropriately trained workforce to meet patients’ (McNally, 2018).
Another competing need that impacts healthcare development policy is equipment resources. Resource in healthcare may refer to different things depending on the context. Resources in this context will refer to instruments, equipment, rooms, beds, and many resources needed to provide health services. For effective healthcare policy, there must be a balance between required resources and supply.
Specific competing needs that may impact patient care on obese patients.
Efficient and effective patient care for obese patients requires unique resources. These resources could range from Bariatric beds, commodes, grabbers, bariatric bath benches/chairs, lifting equipment, and adequate staffing. Due to competing equipment needs, most healthcare organizations hire equipment to supplement patient care. Hospitals must provide supersized beds in caring for obese patients. providing these types of equipment pose policy issues in terms of finance because bariatric equipment is about four times more expensive. (Geracimos, 2004, p. 01). Patient cares for the patient population requires additional training and accessible medical diagnostic equipment to accommodate these patients safely; hence policy must be put in place for staff training.
The impacts and how policy might address these competing needs
Caring for obese patients impacts the workload, requiring additional workforce and increasing organizational resource requirements and training. Caring for obese patients can also lead to staff burnout in heavy lifting and poor patient outcomes if resources are unavailable. Policies to address equipment challenges would include a comprehensive estimation of classes of obesity in the healthcare sector. Provide staff education on acquiring and using bariatric equipment and updating policies and procedures (Gardner & Gibbs, 2013). Most challenges nurses face in caring for obese patients is the availability of equipment and knowledge on how to use the equipment. Several healthcare organizations do not own bariatric equipment and therefore hire the equipment, which often delays patient treatment or could worsen patients’ situation. A crucial problem with renting bariatric equipment is the time needed to secure bariatric rental equipment. My organization rents bariatric beds each time there is an admission for morbidly obese patients. The beds are not delivered immediately; sometimes, delivery takes a day or two. when the beds eventually arrive, Nurse will manually transfer the patients from the regular beds to the bariatric beds, increasing the nurses’ workload.
Conclusion
Competing needs impacting obese patients include sufficient workforce, resources, and patients. For optimum care of patients suffering from obesity, healthcare organizations should make provisions for sufficient human and equipment resources to reduce staff burnout and workload. The healthcare policy should include processes and procedures for acquiring bariatric equipment and instructions on usage.
References
Gardner, L. A., & Gibbs, C. (2013). Class III obese patients: Is your hospital equipped to address their needs? | Advisory. Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority. Retrieved June 11, 2023, from https://patientsafety.pa.gov/ADVISORIES/Pages/201303_11.aspx#
Geracimos, A. (2004, January 27). Obese patients strain hospitals; Larger equipment required. The Washington Times (Washington, DC), pp. 1-2.
McNally, K. (2018). The imperative for strategic workforce planning and development: Challenges and opportunities. American Hospital Association | AHA News. Retrieved June 11, 2023, from https://www.aha.org/news/insights-and-analysis/2018-02-28-imperative-strategic-workforce-planning-and-developmen
| Excellent | Good | Fair | Poor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Posting |
45 (45%) – 50 (50%)
Answers all parts of the discussion question(s) expectations with reflective critical analysis and synthesis of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module and current credible sources. Supported by at least three current, credible sources. Written clearly and concisely with no grammatical or spelling errors and fully adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style. |
40 (40%) – 44 (44%)
Responds to the discussion question(s) and is reflective with critical analysis and synthesis of knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. At least 75% of post has exceptional depth and breadth. Supported by at least three credible sources. Written clearly and concisely with one or no grammatical or spelling errors and fully adheres to current APA manual writing rules and style. |
35 (35%) – 39 (39%)
Responds to some of the discussion question(s). One or two criteria are not addressed or are superficially addressed. Is somewhat lacking reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Somewhat represents knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Post is cited with two credible sources. Written somewhat concisely; may contain more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Contains some APA formatting errors. |
0 (0%) – 34 (34%)
Does not respond to the discussion question(s) adequately. Lacks depth or superficially addresses criteria. Lacks reflection and critical analysis and synthesis. Does not represent knowledge gained from the course readings for the module. Contains only one or no credible sources. Not written clearly or concisely. Contains more than two spelling or grammatical errors. Does not adhere to current APA manual writing rules and style. |
| Main Post: Timeliness |
10 (10%) – 10 (10%)
Posts main post by day 3.
|
0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
|
0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
|
0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
Does not post by day 3.
|
| First Response |
17 (17%) – 18 (18%)
Response exhibits synthesis, critical thinking, and application to practice settings. Responds fully to questions posed by faculty. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by at least two scholarly sources. Demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. |
15 (15%) – 16 (16%)
Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. |
13 (13%) – 14 (14%)
Response is on topic and may have some depth. Responses posted in the discussion may lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Response may lack clear, concise opinions and ideas, and a few or no credible sources are cited. |
0 (0%) – 12 (12%)
Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. Responses posted in the discussion lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited. |
| Second Response |
16 (16%) – 17 (17%)
Response exhibits synthesis, critical thinking, and application to practice settings. Responds fully to questions posed by faculty. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by at least two scholarly sources. Demonstrates synthesis and understanding of learning objectives. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are fully answered, if posed. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. |
14 (14%) – 15 (15%)
Response exhibits critical thinking and application to practice settings. Communication is professional and respectful to colleagues. Responses to faculty questions are answered, if posed. Provides clear, concise opinions and ideas that are supported by two or more credible sources. Response is effectively written in standard, edited English. |
12 (12%) – 13 (13%)
Response is on topic and may have some depth. Responses posted in the discussion may lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are somewhat answered, if posed. Response may lack clear, concise opinions and ideas, and a few or no credible sources are cited. |
0 (0%) – 11 (11%)
Response may not be on topic and lacks depth. Responses posted in the discussion lack effective professional communication. Responses to faculty questions are missing. No credible sources are cited. |
| Participation |
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Meets requirements for participation by posting on three different days.
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0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
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0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
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0 (0%) – 0 (0%)
Does not meet requirements for participation by posting on 3 different days.
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| Total Points: 100 |
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