Ratio In Nursing

Why do you think there is a shortage of professional nurses and physicians?

I believe several factors play a role in the current shortage of both nurses and physicians. Nurse to patient ratio is one of the largest problems. The nurses on my unit encountered this problem last weekend at work. Our normal patient ratio is one nurse to two patients unless the patient’s condition requires closer monitoring. However, our nursing staff was so short that everyone on the unit had three patients, including the charge nurse. If you ask anyone I work with, the nurse to patient ratio is the overall biggest complaints. Increasing nurse to patient ratios is unsafe for patients and nurses as well. Martin (2015) states that “inadequate nurse staffing

I have always found it best to make decisions based on guidelines from clear evidence. Brower and Nemec (2017) states “ Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) is the driving force for many quality improvement initiatives and standardization of healthcare practices and policies” (p.14). Brower and Nemec (2017) states “EBP began in the 1970s, through widespread controlled randomized trials to provide a more uniform approach to medical decision making” (p.14). Therefore, when making everyday clinical decisions, I always use EBP to provide safer care for my patients.

In either your practice or your daily activities, how much opportunity do you have to interact with those from other cultures? How do you usually handle those who do not speak English or whose cultural norms differ from yours? Do you think you conduct yourself in a culturally competent manner in such interactions? Why or why

Wood (2014) states “refusal to provide client care as designated by terms of employment may result in reprimand, demotion, and even dismissal unless the nurse is employed in a state that offers whistleblower protection”(p.303). In addition, the nurse may be reluctant to report unsafe situations to their managers due to potential animosity with co-workers. Nurses must remember that they took an oath to provide safe patient care, obey the code of ethics, and do no harm. A nurse must always do the ethical thing, even if doing results in emotional distress. According to the article, “From the ethics”, (2016), moral courage requires a steadfast commitment to fundamental principles despite potential risks, including threats to reputation, shame, emotional anxiety, isolation from colleagues, retaliation, and termination from employment