Nurse Staffing Ratios

Research Paper # 99322

Medical and Health > Nursing
Medical and Health > Public Health Issues

This paper examines legislation regarding nurse-to-patient ratios.

2,043 words () | 14 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper relates that California became the first state to mandate nurse-to-patient ratios. The paper explores the issues surrounding this policy, including the historical background, the stakeholders involved, why this is such a critical issue and how nurses can play an active role in ensuring this policy is adopted by all states in the union. The paper shows how mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios improve the quality of nursing and reduce the nursing shortage through greater retention and interest.

From the Paper:

"Nurse to patient ratios have been a source of controversy for over a decade, culminating in legislative action at the state and federal level and nursing associations. In 1999, California became the first state to mandate nurse to patient ratios (Sabin, 2004; Wilson, 2004; Dumpel, 2005; Gedhill, 2005; "Hospitals struggle," 2005; Evans, 2006). The legislation mandated that medical-surgical nurses no longer be responsible for more than five or six patients each. Research has shown the optimal workload for nurses to be four patients ("Nurse:Patient," 2006; Ritter-Teitel, 2004; Wilson, 2004). Increasing the patient count to six patients per registered nurse resulted in a 14% increase in mortality rate within 30 days of hospitalization, increased needle stick injuries among nurses and a significant increase in nursing sensitive patient complications such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia, upper GI bleeding and patients going into shock ("Nurse:Patient," 2006; Ritter-Teitel, 2004; Wilson, 2004)."

Sample of Sources Used:

2002 legislation: Nurse staffing plans and ratios December 2002. (2006). Government Affairs. Retrieved on August 26, 2006 from http://www.nursingworld.org/gova/state/2002/ staffing.htm
Clavreul, G. M. (n.d.). The nurse to patientratio: A viable solution to the nursing shortage? Workingworld.com. Retrieved on August 26, 2006 from http://www.workingworld.com/magazine/viewarticle.asp?articleno=254&wn=
Dumpel, H. (2005). California's new nurse to patient ratio law becomes effective this January. Nevada RNINformation. Retrieved on July 16, 2006 from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa4102/is_200311/ai_n9324006
Evans, M. (2006). Nurse-ratio fight goes national - Ill., Mass., now targeted for Calif. Staffing. Modern Healthcare. Retrieved on July 16, 2006 from http://www.calnurses.org/media-center/in-the-news/2006/march/page.jsp?itemID=27570866
Gedhill, L. (2005, March 4). Governor loses to nurse in ruling he illegally blocked law that set staffing ratios, judges save. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on July 16, 2006 from http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/03/04/MNG2ABKCBE1.DTL