“Nurse practice acts are developed by each state to protect the public health, safety, and welfare by regulating and overseeing nursing practice” (Kearney-Nunnery, 2012, p. 341). Some of the standards accepted by the states into practice are continually disputed. Such debatable topics surrounding the nursing profession with regards to the profession itself and patient safety are; nurse to patient ratios, mandatory overtime, and required further education in nursing. Each of these areas of concern have either positive or negative connotations for nurses, patients and hospitals.
Nurse to patient ratio is an issue which has been debated for many years and does not seem to be going away anytime soon. “Not only is the situation dire but the forecasts for increased stress on the system from population growth and the demands of …show more content…
The discussion is whether or not holding a BSN affects quality of patient care. “It is clear that in order to provide patients with safe, evidence-based, quality care, the nurse of today and the future must be highly educated” (Tollick, 2013, p. 5). Does highly educated mean through continued education in the field or in the classroom? One study showed that, a 10% increase in the proportion of nurses holding baccalaureate degrees in hospitals was associated with a 5% decrease in the risk of patient death and that the lowest mortality rates were in hospitals where at least 60% of the nurses held a baccalaureate degree”. (Weinberg, Cooney-Miner, & Perloff, 2012, p. 4). The Institute of Medicine recommended that 80% of the registered nurse workforce have at least a bachelor 's degree by the year 2020. This change can seem to be positive one however, it can have effects on nursing. Such effects could be, an increase nursing shortage due to nurses not wanting to go back to school or those not able to go back and obtain a
Nurse to patient ratio is an issue which has been debated for many years and does not seem to be going away anytime soon. “Not only is the situation dire but the forecasts for increased stress on the system from population growth and the demands of …show more content…
The discussion is whether or not holding a BSN affects quality of patient care. “It is clear that in order to provide patients with safe, evidence-based, quality care, the nurse of today and the future must be highly educated” (Tollick, 2013, p. 5). Does highly educated mean through continued education in the field or in the classroom? One study showed that, a 10% increase in the proportion of nurses holding baccalaureate degrees in hospitals was associated with a 5% decrease in the risk of patient death and that the lowest mortality rates were in hospitals where at least 60% of the nurses held a baccalaureate degree”. (Weinberg, Cooney-Miner, & Perloff, 2012, p. 4). The Institute of Medicine recommended that 80% of the registered nurse workforce have at least a bachelor 's degree by the year 2020. This change can seem to be positive one however, it can have effects on nursing. Such effects could be, an increase nursing shortage due to nurses not wanting to go back to school or those not able to go back and obtain a