Registered nurses (RNs) have been named the nation’s most honest and ethical profession for the 19th year in a row. When there aren’t enough of them to adequately care for every patient , everyone suffers—patients, nurses, physicians, and the facility itself.
As a result, nurse-to-patient ratios are important in terms of patient safety and quality care. We look at the complexities of establishing minimum nurse staffing levels for safety.
Medicare-certified facilities are required by law to “have an adequate number of licensed registered nurses, licensed practical (vocational) nurses, and other personnel to provide nursing care to all patients as needed.”
The benefits of matching nurses’ skills and competencies to the needs of patients are becoming more widely recognized. The benefits of an appropriate nurse-to-patient ratio are clear.
Patient Quality Care
The quality of patient care decreases as the number of patients in a nurse’s care increases. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that unsafe staffing levels were “associated with increased mortality” for patients (Needleman et al., 2011).
Better nurse staffing ratios increases quality of care for all patients. According to one study, only 14 percent of patients that said there were never or rarely enough nurses on the hospital ward rated their care as excellent. In comparison, 57 percent of patients that believed there were sufficient nurses and that their treatment was outstanding.
Nurses who are struggling to care for too many patients may not only neglect mission-critical tasks, but they may also be unable to undertake other “soft” nursing duties such as proper patient communication and bedside manner. As a result, adequate staffing is critical for nurses to have more time to educate their patients about their medical condition (s). Nurses can also provide patients with resources to help them live better lives and manage their conditions. It can also improve teamwork and care coordination.
Nurse Safety and Satisfaction
Nurses report greater job satisfaction when they have fewer patients to care for at once. The pandemic has exacerbated the long-standing issue of nurse burnout. On top of that, having improper nurse patient ratios leads to increased feelings of fatigue, stress, feelings of helplessness, and retention. Job dissatisfaction, higher turnover, and even feelings of resentment toward their employer have all been linked to high nurse-to-patient ratios. Nurses working in these environments are more likely to make a medical error or mistake.
There is proof that appropriate staffing and nurse-to-patient ratios can also keep nurses physically safe. According to one study, the California nurse staffing law was associated with 55.6 fewer occupational injuries and illnesses per 10,000 RNs per year, which was approximately 31.6 percent lower than the expected percentage if the law had not been enacted. This translates into shorter lengths of stay, lower readmissions, and lower nurse turnover for that state’s hospitals, among other benefits.
Reducing Medical Errors
Many patients who are admitted to hospitals face significant risks during their stay. Nurses can improve the quality of care they provide to patients while still meeting their needs. Nurse-to-patient ratios can help to prevent errors that could lead to patient harm or death. Each of the five rights for medication administration (the right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, and the right time.) is predicated on the nurse’s ability to focus on the task at hand. Nurses can create hospitable conditions that make patients feel safe and comfortable in their hospital room by creating a positive work environment and using good communication skills.
As previously stated, inadequate nurse-to-patient ratios are associated with negative outcomes other than those caused by missed nursing care. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 35 articles, discovered a significant link between nurse staffing levels and nurse-sensitive patient outcomes in acute specialist units, particularly in-hospital mortality.
Medical Facility Benefits
Employing more nurses may not appear to be cost effective for healthcare facilities, but it is. According to a study published in Medical Care, hiring more nurses and having a lower nurse-to-patient ratio reduced hospital stays for patients and helped save money on medical costs.
As previously noted, quality nursing care improves the overall perception of a hospital facility as well as patient outcomes. The higher the quality of nursing care provided, the higher the perception of the facility.
Take it from us: safe nurse-patient staffing ratios are a really big deal.
The number of medical professionals on staff at a given time makes a huge difference to patient care. The right number of nurses, doctors, and other certified caregivers can help patients feel more comfortable and satisfied with their care. They can also ensure that all patients get the attention they need, when they need it—and not when it is too late..
If you’re working at a facility that isn’t meeting their staffing requirements, don’t be afraid to speak up! Patient care is too important to ignore these issues.
Filed under: Blog
Comments: Comments Off on The Importance of Nurse-to-Patient Ratios
As a healthcare worker, you are constantly putting the needs of others above your own. You must put your own safety at stake in order to keep others safe and healthy during the COVID-19 epidemic. It’s not simply your competence or broad understanding of science and medicine that makes you an indispensable employee; it’s the way you treat people as a whole.
Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to forget about yourself when you’re so focused on the needs of others. Health workers must also practice holistic self-care. Ignoring self-care can lead to burnout and compassion fatigue, which is a condition caused by repeated exposure to stress or trauma.
As you continue to offer so much of yourself to others, it’s critical that you recharge and reconnect with what makes you happy at least on a regular basis. Taking care of yourself isn’t self-indulgent; it’s necessary!
Through so-called “micro-caring” methods, you can take modest steps toward appropriate self-care. To assist you in prioritizing your health, we’ve identified four simple and doable practices that can help.
#1 – Set Boundaries
Knowing your boundaries and intelligently planning your time commitments are the first steps in self-care for medical professionals. This is true in both your professional and personal lives.
Aside from your hospital job, you probably have a lot of other duties that weigh heavily on your mind. Make sure to schedule time for your most fundamental and vital requirements. Eat healthy, spend time with your family, and get plenty of rest. To avoid burnout, make it a point to actively convey your demands to your leaders and team members.
#2 – Nourish Your Physical Health
Most medical staff spend a considerable portion of each day on their feet, delivering patient care and making key decisions regarding diagnosis and treatments, which requires a high level of physical vitality and mental clarity. Nurses should be persistent in their exercise and intentional in their food choices to maintain the highest degree of stamina and energy. A healthy lifestyle can help them not only improve their physical abilities, but also provide a positive example for their patients.
Eat with Wellness in Mind
In a medical profession, your body is your livelihood, and it is critical that you take care of it. If you work in a fast-paced atmosphere, you may frequently run out of time.
This can provide issues for you in terms of healthy eating, as shift work, office food selections, and limited access to meal breaks may drive you to rely on a diet heavy in fat, sodium, sugar, and additives. Remember that your body is a machine that requires you to make decisions about what foods to feed it.
The advantages are numerous, including keeping you energized for extended periods of time, assisting you in maintaining a healthy weight, assisting your body’s ability to battle sicknesses, lowering blood pressure, and many more. Spend 10 minutes each week planning a healthy lunch and snack to bring to your shift.
Add Movement
We all know that exercise is important for self-care, and healthcare workers are no exception. Despite this, we frequently neglect to exercise due to more pressing obligations in our daily schedules. Allowing crucial commitments to physical self-care to take precedence over pressing items on your to-do list, on the other hand, could be a short- and long-term investment in your health.
Our bodies produce endorphins when we workout. Endorphins are natural pain relievers that also aid in sleep. They can also improve your mood and boost your self-esteem.
When exercise is done on a regular basis, it is most beneficial. It doesn’t have to be a lot of work. Even 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day can provide health benefits. Consider riding a stationary bike while watching TV or going for a short walk after dinner.
Recharge Your Body with Good Sleep
The importance of sleep in the rejuvenation of the body cannot be overstated. Regular rest is an important aspect of caring for your health, as it strengthens the immune system and regulates hormone production. Mark Wu, M.D., Ph.D., a Johns Hopkins sleep expert and neurologist, says that “the brain is engaged in a number of tasks fundamental to life—which are directly tied to quality of life” during good sleep.
#3 – Make Room for Relationships
Human beings are social animals. Because medical workers are natural nurturers, connection and community can be quite important to you. Relational ties enable us to achieve your goals. Other individuals are required in the process of expanding your hearts, minds, and souls.
Identify the most important connections in your life and give them your undivided attention. You’ll find that spending time with the people who help you grow and live your best life once you’ve found the healthy, reciprocal connections in your life. Building healthy connections at work and outside of work takes time and effort, but the peace of mind is well worth it.
#4 – Nurture Your Spirit
Make a positive start to your day. Many of us experience unpleasant thoughts on a regular basis. When we are pessimistic, our self-esteem, mood, and attitude can all suffer. Make a conscious effort to develop positive daily habits, such as rising a few minutes earlier and spending time in prayer, meditation, self-reflection, or journaling. Do it on a regular basis, whatever that looks like for you.
Positive self-talk can also help you improve your self-esteem, reduce stress, and manage unpleasant emotions. Changing your self-talk to be affirming and positive takes practice, but it’s a useful tool for how you see yourself and react to circumstances.
Perhaps it’s also time to take up a new activity or pursue a hidden love outside of work. Take a lesson or join a group to boost your creativity. If you’re an extrovert, being part of a group may energize you even more.
However, you go about it, be sure to take some time to take care of you.
Filed under: Healthcare Workers
Comments: Comments Off on Self-Care for Medical Professionals: 4 Simple Practices That Can Help
With the COVID-19 pandemic still on going in the United States, we’d like make sure the medical staff taking care of us knows that people do appreciate them!
People working in the medical field save lives every day with their care, compassion, and expertise—and they’ve done so at great personal risk during the pandemic. They deserve our gratitude for the lifesaving work they do now more than ever.
Many businesses in the United States share this sentiment and are providing special discounts to medical professionals.
Check out these deals for nurses, first responders and other medical professional before your next shopping trip or big purchase to see how you can save money!
As a special thank you for your service, verified medical professionals, first responders, nurses and military members can enjoy an exclusive 30% off discount.
Lululemon is providing 25% off to first responders, doctors, nurses, and support workers in hospitals, acute care facilities, and long-term care facilities. (in-store only).
Under Armour proudly offers 10% off all purchases for all first responders and healthcare workers. Just choose Military and First Responder Discount at checkout.
Get 30 percent off scrubs with code: FRONTLINES. Medelita was founded by a PA and complies with CDC guidelines (can be washed in the hottest temperature every single day and not lose durability), and the products have a 365-day warranty.
Medical professionals and first responders receive a special 15% discount on all of Kindra’s estrogen-free peri/menopause essential – in appreciation for all that you do.
Blackwater Roasters is proud to partner with Heroes Health to offer a 10% discount to all EMS, Healthcare Workers, First Responders, Police and Fire. Use the code HEROESHEALTH at checkout to receive your discount.
Get 20% off your entire check if you’re a medical, law enforcement, military and firefighter professional. Just mention this offer when you call in your order to IHOP. Then, show your Official ID when you pick up your order.
All health care, emergency and essential service workers qualify for $40 off their entire order by using this promo code during checkout: HEALTHCARE40.
As a show of gratitude for our heroes fighting against COVID-19, Alpine Rings is matching its military discount of 15% and extending it to all front-line health care workers. This discount applies to all men’s wedding bands and can be used by entering the code ‘NURSE15’ at checkout.
Every Sunday (8 a.m. to 9 a.m), all BJ’s locations are opened exclusively to frontline heroes. They are free to take advantage of BJ’s low prices (without a membership) or can accept a free four-month membership.
To help support health care professionals, Headspace is offering mindfulness content—from meditations to sleep and movement content—to listen to at any time for free.
HELM is giving back to heroes on the frontline. Through the ID.me platform, medical staff, nurses, first responders, U.S.–stationed armed service members and veterans qualify for 50% off the HELM True Wireless 5 Headphones.
Filed under: Blog, Healthcare Workers
Comments: Comments Off on 2022 Health Care Worker Discounts and Deals
Hospitals, medical facilities, and nursing homes are typically regarded as the largest employers of people working in the medical field. However, due to the broad scope of their operations and the diversity of their functions, the facilities are not always able to focus on staffing quality and requirements. Furthermore, small, and medium-sized nursing homes and facilities cannot afford to have a recruitment team to quickly fill vacancies leaving them with overworked staff, higher nurse-to-patient ratios, and lower levels of patient care. This is where medical staffing agencies can help. They are dedicated professionals that manage the staffing needs of healthcare facilities. Staffing agencies provide on-demand and effective medical staffing solutions that are in sync with the facility’s needs. Apart from temporary staffing services, they also assist job seekers and facilities by matching medical professionals with job vacancies that match their education qualifications and experience in the field.
If you manage a healthcare facility and need assistance choosing the best healthcare workers to fill open shifts or long-term vacancies, it may be best to call on the services of a healthcare staffing agency. Here are some of the benefits of using a staffing agency for all your hiring needs:
Access to a pool of qualified, trained, and professional candidates.
A healthcare staffing agency will collaborate with you to find the best health care professional for your specific requirements. Instead of; going through multiple job boards, reviewing hundreds of candidates, and taking time out of your schedule to interview them, healthcare providers are matched based on qualifications, experience, and personality so that both parties’ benefit from a successful hire.
Efficiency and Quick Results
Staffing agencies can quickly generate a list of highly qualified professionals for you using their tools and industry knowledge. If you need to fill open positions quickly with little downtime, collaborating with the agency is a wise decision. You will be able to jump start your hiring process without interruption. Let an agency handle the candidate sourcing and your team can concentrate on interviewing only a few highly qualified individuals to fill your needs.
Reducing administrative hassle
Medical staffing agencies can not only provide access to a nationwide network of highly qualified candidates, but they can also help to streamline the selection and onboarding process. As a result, your staff will spend less time on the most time-consuming parts of hiring, such as sorting through applications, credentialing, and scheduling interviews.
A partner to meet your operational goals / A support for permanent staff
A dedicated healthcare staffing agency can do more than just ensure that a facility is adequately staffed with the best possible candidates. With advanced workforce management tools, a truly comprehensive partner can also help you meet your larger operational goals, such as improving staff retention, reporting, and cost effectiveness.
Collaborating with a staffing agency provides significant benefits when looking to expand your operations and workforce. If you are still looking for a dependable staffing agency, look no further than our team at Always Reliable. We value excellence in healthcare recruitment, retention, customer service, and, of course, patient care. We understand how important it is to establish a relationship based on open communication, honesty, and trust.
Interested in learning more about how collaborating with Always Reliable can help you achieve your staffing objectives? Our expert service can help you meet your goals whether you manage a hospital or rehab clinic, a school, a correctional facility, or any other site that relies on high-quality nurses, therapists, pharmacists, and clinicians.
To learn more about our healthcare staffing services, call us at 800-694-4711 or email us at: info@armedicalstaffing.com
Filed under: Healthcare Facilities
Comments: Comments Off on 4 Ways A Medical Staffing Agency Can Benefit Your Facility
