- Identify and describe at least two competing needs impacting your selected healthcare issue/stressor.
- Describe a relevant policy or practice in your organization that may influence your selected healthcare issue/stressor.
Competing Needs Impacting Healthcare Issues and Organizational Policies
Healthcare organizations continually face challenges that arise from competing needs, particularly in balancing patient care quality, cost efficiency, workforce well-being, and operational sustainability. One prominent healthcare stressor that exemplifies these challenges is nurse staffing shortages. Staffing shortages have become a critical issue due to increasing patient demands, limited resources, and workforce burnout. This essay will examine two competing needs that impact nurse staffing shortages and describe a relevant organizational policy that influences this issue.
Competing Needs: Patient Safety vs. Cost Efficiency
One of the primary competing needs related to nurse staffing shortages is the balance between patient safety and cost efficiency. Adequate nurse staffing is essential for ensuring high-quality patient care, reducing medical errors, and improving patient outcomes. Studies indicate that higher nurse-to-patient ratios are associated with lower mortality rates, fewer hospital-acquired infections, and improved patient satisfaction (Aiken et al., 2018). However, hospitals and healthcare institutions operate within strict budget constraints, making it challenging to allocate sufficient funds to hire additional nursing staff. Cost-containment strategies, such as limiting overtime and relying on fewer nurses, can lead to increased workloads, burnout, and compromised patient care.
To mitigate the financial strain, some healthcare facilities implement productivity measures such as reducing non-essential tasks or optimizing electronic health record (EHR) efficiency. However, these approaches often fall short of addressing the root issue—insufficient nursing staff. Consequently, patient safety remains at risk when cost efficiency is prioritized over adequate staffing levels.
Competing Needs: Workforce Well-being vs. Patient Demand
Another competing need in addressing nurse staffing shortages is the balance between workforce well-being and increasing patient demand. Nurses frequently experience high levels of stress and burnout due to long shifts, heavy workloads, and emotional exhaustion from patient care responsibilities. Burnout can lead to decreased job satisfaction, absenteeism, and higher turnover rates, exacerbating staffing shortages (Dall’Ora et al., 2020). Addressing nurse well-being is critical for maintaining a resilient and motivated workforce.
Conversely, patient demand continues to rise due to an aging population, increasing chronic disease prevalence, and the expansion of healthcare access. Hospitals often struggle to accommodate this surge in demand while maintaining an adequate nurse-to-patient ratio. To address this, some healthcare organizations have implemented flexible scheduling, improved mental health support, and offered financial incentives to retain nursing staff. However, without long-term systemic solutions, such as policy changes or workforce expansion initiatives, the tension between workforce well-being and patient demand will persist.
Organizational Policy Influencing Nurse Staffing Shortages
In response to nurse staffing challenges, my organization has implemented a minimum staffing ratio policy that mandates specific nurse-to-patient ratios in critical care units. This policy aims to uphold patient safety by ensuring a baseline level of staffing at all times. However, the policy also presents challenges, particularly in non-critical units where staffing levels fluctuate based on patient admissions and discharges.
While the policy helps maintain quality care standards, it also places pressure on nurse managers to meet staffing requirements, sometimes leading to mandatory overtime or increased reliance on temporary staff. This, in turn, can contribute to nurse fatigue and reduced job satisfaction. To improve the policy’s effectiveness, my organization is exploring additional strategies, such as expanding recruitment efforts, offering retention bonuses, and investing in nurse residency programs to increase workforce sustainability.
Conclusion
Nurse staffing shortages remain a pressing healthcare issue due to the competing needs of patient safety versus cost efficiency and workforce well-being versus patient demand. Organizational policies, such as mandated staffing ratios, can provide structure but also create unintended consequences. A multifaceted approach that includes financial investment, workload management, and policy refinement is necessary to address staffing shortages effectively. Healthcare leaders must continuously evaluate these policies to ensure a balance between high-quality patient care and workforce sustainability.
References
Aiken, L. H., et al. (2018). “Nurse staffing and patient outcomes: A systematic review of the literature.” Health Affairs, 37(11), 1737-1745.
Dall’Ora, C., et al. (2020). “Burnout in nursing: A theoretical review.” International Journal of Nursing Studies, 107, 103576.