In This Assignment You Will Be Writing A 1000-1250 Wo 027447 ✓ Solved

In This Assignment You Will Be Writing A 1000 1250 Word Paper Descr

In this assignment, you will be writing a 1,000-1,250 word paper describing the differing approaches of nursing leaders and managers to issues in practice. To complete this assignment, do the following:

1. Select an issue from the following list: bullying, unit closers and restructuring, floating, nurse turnover, nurse staffing ratios, use of contract employees (i.e., registry and travel nurses), or magnet designation.

2. Describe the selected issue. Discuss how it impacts quality of care and patient safety in the setting in which it occurs.

3. Discuss how professional standards of practice should be demonstrated in this situation to help rectify the issue or maintain professional conduct.

4. Explain the differing roles of nursing leaders and nursing managers in this instance and discuss the different approaches they take to address the selected issue and promote patient safety and quality care. Support your rationale by using the theories, principles, skills, and roles of the leader versus manager described in your readings.

5. Discuss what additional aspects managers and leaders would need to initiate in order to ensure professionalism throughout diverse healthcare settings while addressing the selected issue.

6. Describe a leadership style that would best address the chosen issue. Explain why this style could be successful in this setting.

Use at least three peer-reviewed journal articles other than those presented in your text or provided in the course. Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required. This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance. This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies: RN to BSN 1.1: Exemplify professionalism in diverse healthcare settings. 1.3: Exercise professional nursing leadership and management roles in the promotion of patient safety and quality care. 3.4: Demonstrate professional standards of practice.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

In contemporary healthcare settings, nursing professionals face numerous challenges that impact the delivery of quality care and patient safety. Among these challenges, nurse staffing ratios have emerged as a critical issue influencing the effectiveness of healthcare services. This paper explores the differing approaches of nursing leaders and managers to staffing ratios, examining their roles, strategies, and leadership styles to address this vital concern.

Description of the Issue

Nurse staffing ratios refer to the number of patients assigned to each nurse during a shift. Adequate staffing is essential for ensuring high-quality care, reducing workload stress, and maintaining patient safety. However, many healthcare facilities are challenged by staffing shortages, leading to higher patient loads per nurse, increased burnout, and compromised safety standards (Aiken et al., 2018). This issue is particularly prevalent in the United States, where staffing ratios often depend on economic considerations and MOUs, rather than standardized benchmarks.

Impact on Quality of Care and Patient Safety

Poor staffing ratios directly compromise patient care by delaying interventions, increasing the likelihood of errors, and reducing the time nurses have for patient education and advocacy (Shanafelt et al., 2019). Studies have linked inadequate staffing to higher rates of hospital-acquired infections, medication errors, and patient mortality (Twigg & McCullough, 2014). Moreover, patient satisfaction scores decline when staffing is insufficient, affecting hospital reputation and reimbursement models.

Professional Standards of Practice

Professional standards, such as those outlined by the American Nurses Association (ANA), emphasize maintaining competence, ethical practice, and prioritizing patient safety (ANA, 2015). In addressing staffing ratios, nurses and leadership must advocate for staffing models aligned with best practices, transparency, and evidence-based policies. Ensuring adequate staffing demonstrates compliance with standards of safe, competent, and ethical nursing practice.

Roles of Nursing Leaders and Managers

Nursing leaders, such as Chief Nursing Officers or Directors, advocate for policy changes, resource allocation, and organizational culture shifts to prioritize staffing. They focus on strategic planning, advocacy, and influencing healthcare policies to achieve optimal staffing levels (Cummings et al., 2018). In contrast, nursing managers handle operational aspects, such as scheduling, staffing assignments, and immediate problem-solving to balance workloads at the unit level.

Leaders typically employ transformational leadership approaches, inspiring change and engaging staff to advocate for safe staffing (Sfantou et al., 2017). Managers tend to use transactional strategies, focusing on task completion, compliance with policies, and day-to-day management (Huang et al., 2019).

Additional Aspects for Ensuring Professionalism

Both leaders and managers need to foster a culture of professionalism by promoting open communication, ongoing education, and accountability. Implementing staffing audits, using real-time staffing data, and involving staff in decision-making further support professionalism. Additionally, cultivating ethical leadership and emphasizing the importance of patient safety can motivate staff to uphold standards consistently across diverse settings.

Leadership Style for Addressing Staffing Ratios

A transformational leadership style would be most effective in addressing staffing ratios. Transformational leaders inspire shared vision, motivate staff toward organizational goals, and foster an environment of collaboration (Bass & Riggio, 2006). By empowering staff to participate in staffing solutions and advocating for policy changes, this style promotes sustainable improvements in staffing practices. Such leaders build trust and resilience, which are crucial amid staffing crises.

Conclusion

Addressing nurse staffing ratios requires a nuanced approach that considers the roles and strategies of both nursing leaders and managers. While leaders focus on advocacy and strategic reform, managers handle operational adjustments. Employing a transformational leadership approach, supported by evidence-based policies and a culture of professionalism, fosters safer, higher-quality care. Future efforts should emphasize collaborative, data-driven strategies to resolve staffing challenges comprehensively.

References

• Aiken, L. H., Sloane, D. M., Cimiotti, J. P., Clarke, S. P., Flynn, L., & Weiss, M. (2018). Impacts of nurse staffing, work environments, and education on patient safety. Medical Care, 56(10), 877-884.
• American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. ANA.
• Bass, B. M., & Riggio, R. E. (2006). Transformational Leadership (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Cummings, G. G., Tate, K., Lee, S., et al. (2018). Leadership styles and outcome patterns for the nursing workforce and work environment: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 85, 19-60.
• Huang, B., et al. (2019). The role of leadership in nursing workforce management: A structured review. Journal of Nursing Management, 27(4), 731-739.
• Shanafelt, T. D., et al. (2019). Burnout and professionalism in medicine. JAMA, 322(23), 2345-2346.
• Sfantou, D. F., et al. (2017). Importance of leadership style towards quality of care measures in healthcare settings: A systematic review. Healthcare, 5(4), 73.
• Twigg, D. E., & McCullough, K. A. (2014). Nurse staffing and patient outcomes: A systematic review. Nursing Outlook, 62(3), 203-210.