Mandated Minimum Staff Ratios Essay

In the past several years, there has been a growing need for more registered treasures in hospitals due to rising avidity of affected roles. The safety and quality of longanimous give cargon is directly related to the sizing and experience of the treat make waterforce. Nursing working conditions have deteriorated in nigh facilities because hospitals have not kept up with the rising demand for nurses. Legislatures, wellness bang providers, and the public are demanding adequate staffing balances for nurses, particularly RNs to patients in an acute care setting (Huston, 2010, p.165).These measures assign some stripped-down level of staffing that all hospitals must meet regardless of the types and severity of patients. A story was done that included over 10,000 nurses and over 230,000 patients in 168 hospitals the study showed hospitals with a higher(prenominal) patient to nurse ratio had a higher percentage of surgical patients dying in the 30 days of entry (Huston, 2010, p .167). This study suggest that having an inadequate number of RNs in the acute care setting places the public at risk for complications and eventide death.I am writing this topic because I believe that patient to nurse ratio should represent the acuity level and not the number. As a nurse, I have worked in facilities that designate patient care according to the number of patients and not the acuity. The nurses are overwhelmed because some are depute 6 high acuity patients. When the acuity level is not considered, the patients are put at a higher rate for complications. Greenberg argued that the implementation of staffing ratios improves nurse satisfaction and eventually retention (Huston, 2010, p.169). Who wouldnt want to go to work to a full nursing staff? The mandated minimum staff ratio would prevent nurses from working short by pulling resources from somewhere else or use contracted nurses. The end result exit be patient satisfaction and happy nurses.There are several states and some countries that has take this legislation. Some legislatures have even established a law that goes a little further by establishing a hospital wide nursing care committee. This committee will recommend a nursing wait on staffing plan according to the facilitys assessment of patient care needs (Huston, 2010, p. 173). Other states call for at least an annual valuation of the staffing plan. These are just some of the alternatives. All states should consider the effect of how this will impact the nurses and the patients. If the patients and nurses are satisfied, the health care system will benefit.ReferencesHuston, C.J., (2010). captain issues in nursing Challenges and opportunities (2nd ed.). Baltimore Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.