Rapid Appraisal
The impacts of nursing inputs on the quality care provided in nursing homes was investigated and found that mix staffing process can effectively optimize the organization standard and reduce the patient adverse outcomes (Hendrix, 2001, para.25). The statistical outcomes of this study present valuable data that is relevant to the proposed issue. The study outcomes demonstrated that the costs of care for decubitus ulcers significantly reduces with the presence of RNs and NAs while it increases with the LPN presence, indicating the significance of delegating appropriate staff for appropriate work as it can effectively improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare expenditures (Hendrix, 2001, para.25). Therefore, the data obtained from this study is essential for bring change.
On the other hand another study examined how staffing levels influence the patient and nursing outcomes. The information provided by this group on the topic raised a number of issues related to nursing management (Flynn, para. 27). This can help in answering the proposed issue. Thus, the information obtained from this study was valuable and helped in considering a number of factors while addressing the identified problem (Flynn, 2009).
The association between the nurse staffing levels, their activities and patient outcomes were investigated and it was found that the adverse staffing conditions lead to adverse events (Hinno, 2011, para. 33). The statistical data presented in the study demonstrated valuable outputs for the identified issue. The outcomes helped in gaining insight to the fact that reduction in workload can improve nurse retention, increase staffing levels and improve patient adverse outcomes. The information was essential to answer the PICOT question.
While another study explored the barriers to nursing staffing levels by determining the impact of work environment on the staffing levels, their job satisfaction, burnouts, quality of care process and patient outcomes and it was found how nurse environment can affect the care process (Nantsupawat, 2011, para. 24). The statistical data presented by the group totally addressed the issue raised in the present PICOT study. The outcomes of this study indicated that patient- nurse ratio, resource adequacy; leadership skills, management and staffing hugely influence patient’s outcomes and states that better work environment can reduce the mortality and morbidity of the patients. Thus the study outcomes and are relevant to the changes that will be brought in the organization upon implementing the proposed intervention.
When the interrelation between the nursing staffing characteristics, patient’s health and high medical costs was assessed it was found that understaffing can result in increased sitter use costs. The outcomes of the study demonstrated that the high sitter usage costs are highly associated with the staffing levels and patients health condition (Rochefort, 2011, para. 29). Therefore, the study helped in gaining insight that by improving staffing levels and providing additional support can effectively help in solving the identified problem.
Upon assessing the interrelationship between patient outcomes and staffing levels in hospital, it was seen that nurse- patient ratio has huge influence on the patient outcomes. The statistical data presented by the group demonstrated that more number of nurses available per patient can significantly improve the quality care delivery and increase patients and nurse satisfaction (Zhu, 2012, par. 27). Therefore, the identified problem can be addressed by considering the increase in staffing levels.
The influence of the workforce size on the survival rates of critically ill patients in intensive care units and in the organization was assessed and it was found that there is an urgent need to improve the staffing levels to reduce adverse events (West, 2014, para. 51) . The statistical data presented by this group claimed that increased nursing staffing levels can significantly improve the survival rates. Therefore providing a brief insight on how the patient adverse outcomes in hospitals can be improved or minimized.
Another study compared the hospitalization characteristics with or without problems and further assessed its impact on inpatient complications and staffing levels. The data presented by this group identified the limitations of this field and stated that increasing nursing staffing levels would not solve other complications and thus other aspects needs to be dealt with (Schreuders, 2014, para. 36). Therefore, the study gives an insight that solutions should not be designed based on one aspect and other aspects also need considerations.
Another group tried to obtain an in- depth vision of the nurses perception related to the staffing levels, patient classification system (PCS) and nation to patient ratios (NPR). The statistical outcomes of this study provided an insight that appropriate delegation of nursing staff to patients based on their illness and nurses’ skills, can effectively deal the patient adverse event issue and the staffing levels can be also appropriately managed (Oostveen, 2015, para. 48). Therefore, this data helps to understand the significance of NPR and PCS in controlling the stated problem.
The association between the work environment, nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes was examined and further confirmed that all these three factors can highly influence the quality care process. The statistical information presented by this study demonstrated that increase in patient to nurse ratio can adversely increase the medical errors thereby leading to poor patient outcomes (Chau, 2015, para. 27). Thus, the information obtained is significant when finding a solution for the raised problem in the organization.
The low nursing care in high nursing staffing units and missed nursing care units were compared in order to assess the impact of nurse staffing in missed care. The statistical information provided by the study provided a valuable insight for the PICOT study i.e., missed care can be easily dealt by increases the staffing levels (Cho, 2015, para. 20). This thereby would also aid in reducing and improving the patient adverse outcomes and nursing surveillance. The study outcomes are thus valuable as it demonstrates a way in which the patient adverse outcomes can be dealt with.
Furthermore, the effectiveness of the classification system for nursing care for re- assessing and determining the nursing staff workload and their needs were assessed and it was reported that patient outcomes can be improved using the classification system. The statistical information provided by this study provides valuable information on managing nurses according to their skills. The study outcomes demonstrated that the nursing care classification system is an effective tool that can help in minimizing the adverse outcomes and increase patient satisfaction, which is helpful in designing the PICOT study to bring change (Dongmei, 2015, para. 20).
The three measures of staffing implications to meet staffing needs such as turnover adjustments, number of transfers, discharges, and admission, and midnight census were compared and found that adjustment of the staffing can improve the patient churn. The statistical data presented by this study demonstrated that midnight census is an effective way to manage nursing staffing. The study outcomes aids in understanding the how low staffing can impact on workload (Hughes, 2015, para. 26). This also aids in lowering the nurses stress by adjusting the staffing numbers.
Later the association between the nursing outcomes and nurse staffing levels in Thailand was again assessed and Nantsupawat (2015) found consistent results to their previous study. The data demonstrated by the authors explains how nurse staffing can influence the nursing outcomes and also demonstrates that it can reduce nursing burnouts, dissatisfaction and patient outcomes (Nantsupawat, 2015, para. 18). The data helps in figuring out the solution for the issues of improved nursing outcomes by rectifying the staffing levels.
Cho (2016) further examined the association between work environment and nursing staffing levels and its impact on patient adverse events. The statistical information presented by this study demonstrated valuable information for the raised issue i.e., increase in patient to nurse ratio can adversely increase the medical errors thereby leading to poor patient outcomes (Cho, 2016, para. 27). Therefore, the information obtained from this study is valuable when designing solution for the raised problem in the organization.
References
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