Mandating Nurse-Patient Ratios
• Data shows that lowering the nurse-patient ratio similar to the California mandated ratios will result in lower mortality rates (Aiken et al., 2010).
• When the workload is decreased nurses are more successful in identifying a change in patients’ health status, therefore able to intervene and provide a better outcome for the patient (Aiken et al., 2010).
• Reports of job dissatisfaction and nurses’ burnout decreased when the nurse-patient ratio in other states were equaled to the California mandated ratios (Aiken et al., 2010).
• Research shows that lowering the amount of workload for nurses’ results in fewer mistakes, improved nursing care, a supportive staff, and an overall better working environment (Aiken …show more content…
Passing any kind of legislation takes time, dedication, and perseverance and it gives the nurse an opportunity to positively impact the health care system. A nurse who wants to promote mandating nurse-patient ratios needs to do research and find the positive and negative outcomes on this specific subject and then find supporters of this proposition. The outcome of the proposed legislation depends on the amount of support, credentials, and power the nurse has. Nurses need to understanding the policy making process in order to learn strategies to increase their votes. Briefly, there are three stages of the policy making process. The formulation stage is the first stage in which the nurse gathers information and research and organizes the proposed legislation (Abood, 2007). In the second stage known as implementation, the proposed legislation is put into action and has to be implemented by local or state officials (Abood, 2007). The final stage is the evaluation stage, in which the legislation is evaluated or modified (Abood, 2007). If needed, nurses can learn about the legislative process and how to become a policy advocate through state nursing and nursing organizations that offer annual state legislate days which include policy internships, policy workshops, and mentors available to help new advocates (Abood, …show more content…
The American Nurses Advocacy Institute (ANAI) is a program that can help nurses built credibility and increase experience. This program is a mentored program that aims at aiding nurses to transform into political leaders (ANA, 2014). A nurse will be paired up with an experienced policy advocate which is an excellent way for the nurse to learn the proper process of promoting legislation. This will also teach new nurse advocates how to properly utilize their power and influence to gain votes. A nurse can then move on to become part of a professional organization, such as the Nurse Political Action Leaders (N-PAL) program. This program consists of a group of nurses who reach out to members of congress in order to ensure that the issues concerning nursing are heard (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2014). Members of this organization have the opportunity to meet with local and state legislatures, which is a great opportunity to network and promote the
• Data shows that lowering the nurse-patient ratio similar to the California mandated ratios will result in lower mortality rates (Aiken et al., 2010).
• When the workload is decreased nurses are more successful in identifying a change in patients’ health status, therefore able to intervene and provide a better outcome for the patient (Aiken et al., 2010).
• Reports of job dissatisfaction and nurses’ burnout decreased when the nurse-patient ratio in other states were equaled to the California mandated ratios (Aiken et al., 2010).
• Research shows that lowering the amount of workload for nurses’ results in fewer mistakes, improved nursing care, a supportive staff, and an overall better working environment (Aiken …show more content…
Passing any kind of legislation takes time, dedication, and perseverance and it gives the nurse an opportunity to positively impact the health care system. A nurse who wants to promote mandating nurse-patient ratios needs to do research and find the positive and negative outcomes on this specific subject and then find supporters of this proposition. The outcome of the proposed legislation depends on the amount of support, credentials, and power the nurse has. Nurses need to understanding the policy making process in order to learn strategies to increase their votes. Briefly, there are three stages of the policy making process. The formulation stage is the first stage in which the nurse gathers information and research and organizes the proposed legislation (Abood, 2007). In the second stage known as implementation, the proposed legislation is put into action and has to be implemented by local or state officials (Abood, 2007). The final stage is the evaluation stage, in which the legislation is evaluated or modified (Abood, 2007). If needed, nurses can learn about the legislative process and how to become a policy advocate through state nursing and nursing organizations that offer annual state legislate days which include policy internships, policy workshops, and mentors available to help new advocates (Abood, …show more content…
The American Nurses Advocacy Institute (ANAI) is a program that can help nurses built credibility and increase experience. This program is a mentored program that aims at aiding nurses to transform into political leaders (ANA, 2014). A nurse will be paired up with an experienced policy advocate which is an excellent way for the nurse to learn the proper process of promoting legislation. This will also teach new nurse advocates how to properly utilize their power and influence to gain votes. A nurse can then move on to become part of a professional organization, such as the Nurse Political Action Leaders (N-PAL) program. This program consists of a group of nurses who reach out to members of congress in order to ensure that the issues concerning nursing are heard (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2014). Members of this organization have the opportunity to meet with local and state legislatures, which is a great opportunity to network and promote the