Benchmark – Creating Change Through Advocacy The purpose of this assignment is to identify a problem or concern in your organization, local community, or state in which change can occur through advocacy and legislation. Nurses often become motivated to change aspects within the larger health care system based on their real-world experience. As such, many nurses take on an advocacy role to influence a change in regulations, policies, and laws that govern the larger health care system. Identify a problem or concern in your organization, local community, or state. Examples of problems relevant to nursing include, but are not limited to, title “nurse” protection, sharps injury prevention, nursing shortage, nurse well-being, valuation of nursing services, etc. Research the issue you selected and use the attached “Creating Change Through Advocacy” template to complete this assignment. You are required to cite a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be publish

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Creating Change Through Advocacy

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Benchmark – Creating Change Through Advocacy The purpose of this assignment is to identify a problem or concern in your organization, local community, or state in which change can occur through advocacy and legislation. Nurses often become motivated to change aspects within the larger health care system based on their real-world experience. As such, many nurses take on an advocacy role to influence a change in regulations, policies, and laws that govern the larger health care system. Identify a problem or concern in your organization, local community, or state. Examples of problems relevant to nursing include, but are not limited to, title “nurse” protection, sharps injury prevention, nursing shortage, nurse well-being, valuation of nursing services, etc. Research the issue you selected and use the attached “Creating Change Through Advocacy” template to complete this assignment. You are required to cite a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be publish

Expert Answer

Creating Change Through Advocacy

Name:

Problem

 

In no more than 250 words, describe the problem, who is affected, and the current ramifications. Explain the consequences if the issue continues.
One of the challenges that is currently facing the US healthcare system is nurse shortage. Research has shown a positive link between adequate nurse-to-patient ratios with positive health outcomes (Haegdorens et al., 2019). However, there are currently no federal mandates that require healthcare organizations to institute a recommended nurse-to-patient ratio.

 

This leaves the matter squarely at the hands of the healthcare facilities where most of them use their budget to dictate the number of nurses to be employed instead of the number of patients being served and the required ratios to deliver effective care. Nurse shortage at the facility level is an issue that translates to poor outcomes for the patient and the nurse.

Some consequences include delivery of low-quality care, increased cases of malpractice, increased wait times, which leads to higher mortality rates, especially for patients requiring emergency care, increased cases of nurse burnout, and low job and patient satisfaction (Lasater et al., 2021).
Idea for Addressing Solution

 

In no more than 250 words, outline your idea for addressing the issue and explain why legislation is the best course for advocacy.
To help deal with the issue of nurse shortage in healthcare settings, there should be a federal mandate that requires all hospitals to implement a recommended ratio that will ensure patients receive safe and quality care. The recommended nurse-to-patient ratio for general hospitals is put at 1:5 and 1:4 for teaching hospitals (Sharma & Rani, 2020). These ratios vary depending on the settings and the patient needs, for example, in ICU settings, having a lower nurse-to-patient ratio is recommended.

 

Legislation is the best route for action to ensure that the recommended ratios are implemented across the board and not left at the discretion of the facility. Legislation will guarantee that patients receive the required quality of care, which will ultimately translate to different positive outcomes including lower cost of care and reduced disparities, especially in underserved communities.
Research the Issue

 

Perform research and compile information for your idea. Present substantive evidence-based findings that support your idea for addressing the problem (research studies, reports, etc.). Include any similar legislation introduced or passed in other states.
Evidence 1: In a study by Haegdorens et al. (2019) it was identified that insufficient staffing leads to rationing of time to care for each patient. This often leads to missed care events which can have disastrous outcomes including preventable deaths.
Evidence 2: McHugh et al. (2021) conducted a study on nurse-to-patient ratio legislation in Queensland Australia, in 27 intervention hospitals. The results indicated positive outcomes including lower costs from fewer readmissions and shorter lengths of stay for patients which initially contributed to more than twice the cost of the additional nurse staffing.
Evidence 3: In a study by Lasater et al. (2021) conducted in New York Hospitals, it was established that hospitals that had implemented a nurse-to-patient ratio legislation capped at 1:4 nurses to patients had better outcomes with an estimated 4370 lives saved and over $700 million in cost savings over the 2-year study period attributed to shorter lengths of stay and avoided readmissions.
Stakeholder Support

 

Discuss the stakeholders who would support the proposed idea and explain why they would be in support.
Stakeholder(s) Supporting 1 Nurses are the main stakeholders who will support the initiative, given that they are most affected by inadequate nurse-to-patient ratios other than patients. Nurses face high levels of burnout in settings that have inadequate ratios (Lasater et al., 2021). That’s why they will gladly accept the proposal to increase the staffing levels through a legislative mandate.

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Problem

 

In no more than 250 words, describe the problem, who is affected, and the current ramifications. Explain the consequences if the issue continues.
One of the challenges that is currently facing the US healthcare system is nurse shortage. Research has shown a positive link between adequate nurse-to-patient ratios with positive health outcomes (Haegdorens et al., 2019). However, there are currently no federal mandates that require healthcare organizations to institute a recommended nurse-to-patient ratio.

 

This leaves the matter squarely at the hands of the healthcare facilities where most of them use their budget to dictate the number of nurses to be employed instead of the number of patients being served and the required ratios to deliver effective care. Nurse shortage at the facility level is an issue that translates to poor outcomes for the patient and the nurse.

Some consequences include delivery of low-quality care, increased cases of malpractice, increased wait times, which leads to higher mortality rates, especially for patients requiring emergency care, increased cases of nurse burnout, and low job and patient satisfaction (Lasater et al., 2021).
Idea for Addressing Solution

 

In no more than 250 words, outline your idea for addressing the issue and explain why legislation is the best course for advocacy.
To help deal with the issue of nurse shortage in healthcare settings, there should be a federal mandate that requires all hospitals to implement a recommended ratio that will ensure patients receive safe and quality care. The recommended nurse-to-patient ratio for general hospitals is put at 1:5 and 1:4 for teaching hospitals (Sharma & Rani, 2020). These ratios vary depending on the settings and the patient needs, for example, in ICU settings, having a lower nurse-to-patient ratio is recommended.

 

Legislation is the best route for action to ensure that the recommended ratios are implemented across the board and not left at the discretion of the facility. Legislation will guarantee that patients receive the required quality of care, which will ultimately translate to different positive outcomes including lower cost of care and reduced disparities, especially in underserved communities.
Research the Issue

 

Perform research and compile information for your idea. Present substantive evidence-based findings that support your idea for addressing the problem (research studies, reports, etc.). Include any similar legislation introduced or passed in other states.
Evidence 1: In a study by Haegdorens et al. (2019) it was identified that insufficient staffing leads to rationing of time to care for each patient. This often leads to missed care events which can have disastrous outcomes including preventable deaths.
Evidence 2: McHugh et al. (2021) conducted a study on nurse-to-patient ratio legislation in Queensland Australia, in 27 intervention hospitals. The results indicated positive outcomes including lower costs from fewer readmissions and shorter lengths of stay for patients which initially contributed to more than twice the cost of the additional nurse staffing.
Evidence 3: In a study by Lasater et al. (2021) conducted in New York Hospitals, it was established that hospitals that had implemented a nurse-to-patient ratio legislation capped at 1:4 nurses to patients had better outcomes with an estimated 4370 lives saved and over $700 million in cost savings over the 2-year study period attributed to shorter lengths of stay and avoided readmissions.
Stakeholder Support

 

Discuss the stakeholders who would support the proposed idea and explain why they would be in support.
Stakeholder(s) Supporting 1 Nurses are the main stakeholders who will support the initiative, given that they are most affected by inadequate nurse-to-patient ratios other than patients. Nurses face high levels of burnout in settings that have inadequate ratios (Lasater et al., 2021). That’s why they will gladly accept the proposal to increase the staffing levels through a legislative mandate.