Effect Of Disproportionate Nurse To Patient Staffing

effect Of Disproportionate Nurse To Patient Staffing

My capstone topic Effect of disproportionate nurse to patient staffing ratios on the quality of patient care with the Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor, Maine, as a case study. Quality Data Sources Organizer Data Source Primary Content Population Targeted Demographic Data Schedule Is This a Source of Primary or Secondary Data? How / When / Where the Information Might Be Used

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The adequacy of nurse staffing ratios has been recognized as a critical factor influencing the quality of patient care within healthcare settings. Disproportionate nurse-to-patient ratios can lead to increased medical errors, patient dissatisfaction, and adverse health outcomes. This paper investigates the effects of disproportional staffing ratios at Eastern Maine Medical Center (EMMC) in Bangor, Maine, emphasizing how staffing imbalances impact patient outcomes and healthcare delivery quality. By analyzing relevant data sources, both primary and secondary, this study aims to shed light on the significance of appropriate nurse staffing levels in enhancing patient safety and care efficiency.

Background and Rationale

Nurse staffing ratios are a pivotal element in healthcare quality metrics. The Institute of Medicine emphasizes that optimal nurse staffing is essential for safe, effective, and high-quality care (Aiken et al., 2018). Conversely, disproportionate staffing—where nurse-to-patient ratios are either too high or too low—compromises patient safety and staff wellbeing (Shields et al., 2019). At EMMC, concerns have been raised about staffing disparities, especially during peak hours or amidst staffing shortages, which may directly correlate with increased patient complications and decreased satisfaction.

The rationale behind this study is to comprehend how staffing imbalances affect care quality and to identify potential areas for policy and operational improvements at the institution. Given Maine's rural healthcare landscape challenges, understanding personnel allocation issues at a regional hospital like EMMC can inform targeted strategies to optimize staffing and improve patient outcomes.

Data Collection and Sources

This research will utilize both primary and secondary data sources to provide a comprehensive understanding of staffing effects on patient care at EMMC. Primary data will primarily involve direct observations, staff interviews, and patient feedback collected during hospital shifts, focusing on staffing levels versus patient outcomes. Secondary data will comprise existing hospital records, staffing logs, patient charts, incident reports, and quality assurance reports available from EMMC’s administrative and clinical databases.

Specifically, the primary data will include targeted surveys administered to nurses and clinical staff, capturing perceptions of workload, safety concerns, and patient care challenges related to staffing ratios. The secondary data will involve reviewing hospital administrative records, staffing schedules, patient outcome reports, and incident documentation, which are routinely maintained for quality monitoring and accreditation purposes.

Population and Demographics

The target population for this study encompasses registered nurses (RNs), nurse aides, and other clinical staff working directly with patients at EMMC, along with the patients receiving care. The demographic data relevant to this population include age, gender, years of experience, shift timings, and patient acuity levels. The patient demographic primarily includes adult and geriatric populations with common chronic illnesses typical of Maine’s health landscape.

The hospital’s staff demographic data will be employed to analyze staffing patterns in relation to patient outcomes, stratified by shift type and patient acuity to identify whether specific groups are more impacted by staffing disparities. Additionally, demographic data will help contextualize the staffing challenges relative to Maine’s rural population and resource availability.

Data Schedule and Usage

Data collection is scheduled over a three-month period to account for variation in staffing patterns across different shifts and days. During this period, data will be continuously collected through observations, surveys, and review of hospital records. The primary data will be collected weekly to track fluctuations, while secondary data will be extracted at the start and end of the collection period to compare trends over time.

The collected data will be utilized to analyze correlations between staffing ratios and patient care metrics such as hospital-acquired infections, fall rates, patient satisfaction scores, and readmission rates. Statistical analysis will determine whether disproportional staffing significantly affects these outcomes, providing evidence-based insights for hospital policy improvements. Findings will also identify critical staffing thresholds necessary to maintain a high standard of care.

Conclusion

Understanding the impact of disproportionate nurse-to-patient staffing ratios is vital for enhancing healthcare quality at Eastern Maine Medical Center. By integrating primary observations and feedback with existing administrative data, this study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of staffing challenges and patient outcomes. The findings are expected to advocate for staffing policies that ensure patient safety, staff wellbeing, and operational efficiency, ultimately contributing to the broader discourse on healthcare quality improvement in rural hospital settings.

References

Aiken, L. H., Sloane, D. M., Ball, J., et al. (2018). Nurse Staffing and Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 91, 41-55.

Shields, M., Wilkins, K., & Johnson, R. (2019). Impact of Nurse Staffing Ratios on Patient Outcomes in Rural Hospitals. Journal of Rural Health, 35(2), 208-217.

Kramer, M., & Schmalenberg, C. (2018). Nurse Staffing and Quality of Care: An Evidence-Based Approach. American Journal of Nursing, 118(4), 24-32.

Blegen, M. A., Goode, C. J., Spetz, J., et al. (2017). Nurse Staffing and Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review. Nursing Outlook, 65(1), 38-49.

Needleman, J., Buerhaus, P., Pankratz, S., et al. (2019). Nurse Staffing and Inpatient Hospital Mortality. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(19), 1741-1750.

Kutney-Lee, A., Sloane, D. M., & Aiken, L. H. (2020). Nurse Staffing and Patient Outcomes. The Lancet, 398(10293), 1306-1315.

Liu, J., Liu, X., & Zhang, J. (2020). Effects of Staffing Ratios on Patient Safety and Satisfaction in Rural Hospitals. BMC Health Services Research, 20, 1101.

Spence, D., & O'Connell, P. (2021). Rural Healthcare Delivery and Nurse Staffing Challenges. Rural and Remote Health, 21(4), 6275.

Dimick, J. B., et al. (2019). Impact of Nurse Staffing Ratios on Surgical Outcomes in Rural Settings. Journal of Surgical Research, 245, 55-62.

American Nurses Association. (2019). Nursing Staffing and Patient Care Quality. ANA Publications.

Note

The references listed are for illustrative purposes and should be replaced with actual scholarly or credible sources relevant to the specific research conducted.