According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), corrective staffing of nurses per unit cannot be attained through legislation; rather, the decision on the number of nurses per unit should be made with special reference to skills needed per unit, the outcomes of care provided, and the characteristics of the working environment. The number of nurses per unit is an important determinant of its productivity and it differs depending on the shift, day of the week, or changes in the environment. The staffing level per unit and the amount of work are important determinants of the quality of healthcare given. The two factors can be enhanced further if the nurses are well trained. This way, they will be in a good position to provide professional care to the patients and once this is done, the unit will have attained one of its goals; providing quality healthcare (Brown, 2000: 143).
Research has shown that as the number of nurses per unit increases, the level of complications and the duration of stays at the hospital decreases. Following this, it becomes possible to save medical costs, improve national productivity, and save lives. It is estimated that a 1% increase in the number of nurses can help save at least five lives by averting deaths (Hoffman, 2001: 123). This addition further reduces the patient’s number of hospital days. This is advantageous both to the individual as well as the government (Eastaugh, 2002: 123-126). As we increase the number of nurses per unit, we increase their productivity since their professional care is of benefit both to the individuals and the nation.
It is important to note that as we increase the number of nurses per unit, it becomes easy for them to manage their work. As noted earlier, the amount of work per unit depends on the time of day or changes in the working environment. More nurses are needed during the day than at night; this means more nurses have to be present during the day so that they can share the work available. To attain productivity, nurses working on the day are assigned roles according to their experience on that unit. Those who are less experienced are assigned roles that do not call for professional skills (Brown, 2000: 111). With more nurses, patients are attended to well and the degree of illnesses and infections is brought towards zero.
Reducing the number of nurses and making use of services of non-licensed personnel would only worsen the situation. Roles and responsibilities of nurses can only be undertaken successfully if the nurses are not overloaded with work; this gives them enough time to attend to each and every patient adequately. The health of the patients would be at risk since they would not receive enough attention from the nurses available and in addition, the non-licensed personnel may not give them professional care. The healthcare services given by non-licensed nurses may not be up to standard hence may endanger the lives of the patients (Finkler, Kovner & Jones, 2007: 123).
ANA is of the view that the number of nurses per unit cannot be determined by legislation; rather, other factors should be put into consideration. The productivity of any nursing unit is dependant on the number of nurses and the work available. As we increase the number of nurses per unit, we fight illnesses and deaths effectively. The idea of reducing the number of nurses is uncalled for since this may put the life of the patients at stake. Non-licensed nurses cannot act on behalf of trained nurses since they may not be in a position to provide professional healthcare.
References
Brown, M. (2000). Nursing management: issues and ideas. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Eastaugh, S. R. (2002). Health care finance: cost, productivity & strategic design. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Finkler, S.A., Kovner, C.T. and Jones, C.B. (2007). Financial management for nurse managers and executives (3rd Ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Saunders Elsevier.
Hoffman, F. M. (2001). Nursing productivity assessment and costing out nursing services. New Jersey: Lippincott.