HP week 7 peers response
respond to peers thoughtfully, add value to the discussion, and apply ideas, insights, or concepts from scholarly sources, such as: journal articles, assigned readings, textbook material, lectures, course materials, or authoritative websites. For specific details and criteria, refer to the discussion rubric in the Menu (⋮) or in the Course Overview Weekly Discussion Guidelines.
1st peer post
Amie Bonham
I chose advocating for safe staffing. Staffing shortage and crisis is a continued problem across all healthcare systems in the United States. According to the ANA, this is partly due to cost saving decisions, aging population of nurses, and increased patient complexities and needs. Evidence shows that appropriate staffing contributes to improved patient outcomes, reduced mortality rates, reduced length of stays, decreased number of hospital events such as falls and infections, and greater satisfaction for both the patient and the nurses. ANA reports staff levels should depend on patient complexity, the number of admissions, discharges and transfers, nurse level of skill and expertise, physical space of the nursing unit, and availability of other support and resources (Nurse Staffing Crisis, 2017). The ANA follows three general approaches to advocate for safe staffing, which includes staffing committees, mandated nurse-to-patient ratios, and mandated disclosure of staffing levels (Nurse Staffing, 2019). According to Tamata & Mohammadnnezhad (2022), four factors influenced the nursing workforce shortage, including Policy and planning barriers, Barriers to training and enrolment, Factors causing nursing turnover, and Nursing stress and burnout. On a positive note, The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reports that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the RN workforce to increase by 6% over the next decade, with an increase of almost 200, 000 additional nurses (Nursing Shortage Fact Sheet, n.d.)
How does this issue affect your practice and the health promotion topic of your choice?
Nursing shortage can impact many aspects of patient quality of care and safety. In regard to my selected health promotion topic of Reducing Unintentional Injury Deaths, the staffing shortage can impact available resources available to provide educational safety measures in the patient’s home or lifestyle. It could also mean a slower response time during critical situations leading to worsening patient outcomes, or reduced staff available to provide in home assessments or modifications to prevent future falls with injuries.
From what you learned at the site, name a minimum of two actions that are currently in place to address this issue.
The ANA hosted a five-part Webinar with strategies to address the current staffing crisis. The five sessions involved creating a healthy work environment, transforming cost, innovative care delivery, maximizing nursing efficiency and achieving excellence in healthcare with nursing standards. These sessions are available on the ANA website for continued leadership use. They also looked retentions strategies and how to help minimize nursing burnout. Several actions they discussed with helping to mitigate burnout was eliminating mandatory overtime, creating an accommodating flexible culture, competitive salaries, and having an experienced mentor assigned to new graduate nurses to help navigate what is commonly felt to be a difficult first year of transition.
Provide a minimum of two ways you as a professional nurse can become involved with this issue.
As an older experienced nurse, I can ensure I’m showing good leadership skills by checking in with the newer nurses in our unit and be a resource as they grown in their career. I can also be more engaged with my local and state chapters of nursing associations to better advocate for the recommendations put out by the ANA, including mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios and removing mandated overtime.
References
Nursing Shortage Fact Sheet. (n.d.) Retrieved December 10, 2023, from https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/facts-sheets/nursing-shortage
Nurse Staffing. (2019, July 11). https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nurse-staffing/
Nurse Staffing Crisis. (2017, October 24). https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nurse-staffing/nurse-staffing-crisis/
Tamata, A.T, & Mohammadnexhad, M. (2022). A systematic review study on the factors affecting shortage of nursing workforce in the hospitals. Nursing Open, 10(3), 1247-1257. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1434
Part 2 – Many of the advocacy issues in nursing practice impact the work environment of nurses. It is important for nurses to care for themselves so that they can best care for their patients. Consider the information covered in this unit regarding self-care and respond to the following questions:
What are the signs that someone is experiencing burnout?
Burnout in nursing is on the rise. In a 2020 survey, 62% of nurses voiced experiencing burnout. This can lead to decreased quality of care, reduced patient safety, poor nurse productivity, decreased patient satisfaction and worsened patient outcomes (Jun et al., 2021). “Burnout is caused by unmanaged, chronic workplace stress” (Nurse Burnout, 2023). Signs of burnout include consistently feeling overworked, feeling too tired to go to work, no longer looking forward to going to work, feeling unappreciated, physical and emotional exhaustion, compassion fatigue, sleep issues of either insomnia or sleeping too much, and loss of inspiration.
What are some evidence-based strategies you can implement to help prevent burnout and build resilience?
It is important to be aware of the symptoms of burnout to be able to recognize the start of symptoms in yourself or co-workers. Some strategies to reduce burnout include promoting a positive workplace using open communication with your staff members to foster mutual respect. Other beneficial practice habits include managing staff workloads, offering appropriate training and education to staff to help navigate high stress situations, use vacation time to find work-life balance and be sure to exercise and eat well. If you suspect that you are suffering from burnout it is important that you ask for help; be open with nursing leadership with how your feeling and get necessary rest.
References
Jun, J., Ojemeni, M.M., Kalamani, R., Tong, J., & Crecelius, M.L. (2021). Relationship between nurse burnout, patient and organizational outcomes: Systemic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 119, 103933. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103933
Nurse Burnout: What Is It & How to Prevent It. (2023, February 17). https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-saftey/nurse-burnout-and-how-to-prevent-it
2nd peer post
Megan Brown
Part One
· I chose the topic of safe staffing as I feel this is an issue where I work. The health promotion topic is health communication and decreasing the number of patients who report poor communication within the healthcare setting. This issue affects my practice because it makes it challenging to get my job done and do it most sufficiently when there are unsafe nurse-to-patient ratios. It is hard for nurses to provide the quality care they would like to when we are understaffed or have unfair ratios. Communication and safety are jeopardized. As a charge nurse, it is difficult to help other nurses and be a resource for others when I have multiple patients. “Evidence shows appropriate nurse staffing contributes to improved patient outcomes and greater satisfaction for both patients and nurses. Addressing nurse staffing challenges supports our nurses, our patients, and our nation’s health and well-being” (ANA, 2019).
· The ANA has a committee of nurses, individuals in leadership/administrative roles, CNAs, and other representatives to provide insight into what is happening in hospitals and healthcare facilities. Meetings of all these interprofessional members allow different insights for problem-solving and sharing ideas. Having nurses who actively work at the bedside helps give others an idea of what it is like. Another action taking place is actively creating safety plans when it comes to staffing, as well as creating recommendations for staffing and giving opportunities to improve staffing resources.
· I can become involved by creating committees at my hospital that promote safe staffing and implementing ideas for improvement. I can also join larger committees and advocate for nurses. I can join the Nurses Association for my state and learn how to become more involved.
Part Two
· Signs of burnout are mental and physical exhaustion, being distant while at work, forgetting to do things you would typically do, showing more negativity towards your job, reduced efficacy, feeling more tired than usual, and increased anxiety.
· If possible, getting adequate rest in between shifts is essential to prevent burnout. Other strategies to avoid burnout could be asking for help, getting exercise, and eating a well-balanced diet- especially trying to eat before and during your shift, which can be challenging at times. Taking breaks during work and from work is necessary as well. “Emotional support can help with the stress of workplace demands and the mental load of patient care. Make sure you have a sound support system at work, like co-workers to who you can vent your feelings, and consider contacting a therapist before your burnout becomes hard to manage” (ANA, 2023).
References
Blankenhorn , A. (2018). Staffing committees: A safe staffing solution that includes engagement. American Nurse. https://www.myamericannurse.com/safe-staffing-solution-engagement
Nurse staffing. ANA. (2019). https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nurse-staffing/
Nurse burnout: What is it & how to prevent it. ANA. (2023). https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/nurse-burnout-and-how-to-prevent-it
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