Advocacy Plan of Action, Coursework Example

Introduction

Health care staffing measures require a high level of attention to detail and a primary focus on expanding quality of care for patients through policies that are attentive and comprehensive in nature on many levels. This process supports a desirable approach that heeds attention to the needs of patients above all else, with other factors also to be considered. Nurses, for example, must be satisfied with their work environments in order to provide an optimal level of performance, along with a means of developing new perspectives to ensure that patient care outcomes are not compromised in the process. It is important to identify the critical areas of staffing that nurses face so that these concerns are addressed on a comprehensive basis and are modified as needed to ensure that patient care outcomes are achieved. Nursing staffing sets the tone for a healthcare organization and requires a high level of support and understanding of the needs of patients, while also considering other factors that may contribute to achieving the desired care and treatment outcomes. When staffing is inadequate and/or it compromises quality of patient care, it is important to identify these weaknesses and to develop a strategy that will be successful in overcome adversity and in promoting advocacy for all patients who require care.

Analysis

In many ways, nurse staffing is a highly political and contested issue because it impacts how quality of care is achieved. If there are fewer nurses in place to meet the required roles and responsibilities of the practice setting, it is highly likely that patient care will be compromised as a result. Political challenges within the organization may be a factor in this process and could ultimately compromise care. As a result, any strategy that is chosen must be effective in providing a high level of care and treatment for patients that will positively influence their health and wellbeing. The political consequences of nursing staffing are many; therefore, these must be addressed in a timely manner and without reservations so that nurses are able to perform at the expected level at all times.

Key stakeholders in nursing staffing policies and procedures include the nurses themselves, nurse managers, and the patients themselves. In particular, patients are the receivers of care and if this care is not of the highest possible quality, their needs may be unmet, thereby making it difficult for nurses to defend their level of performance. From this perspective, nurses are required to actively participate in many decisions regarding patient care; therefore, they must be present and available to address these concerns as they arise. However, when this is not the case and an organization requires further assistance in this area, it is possible that there could be legitimate concerns for the stakeholder team.

The value that nurses bring to the healthcare environment is without question of the greatest possible quality; however, this process also requires a high level of focus and an understanding of the needs of patients through effective staffing levels to minimize risks that could jeopardize the health of residents (Welton, 2011). As a result, nurses must be able to provide the best possible care through their activities, as well as a means of developing new strategies for growth that could impact quality of care over the long term (Welton, 2011). This process requires an ongoing effort to ensure that an organization is successful in its efforts to advocate for fairness in nursing staffing practices so that nursing roles are well-defined and are not compromised.

Nursing influence on healthcare practice and quality of care is arguably the core of this process; however, it requires a high level of understanding and acceptance from the community at large to realize this influence and its full potential (Benton, 2012). In this context, nurses must establish a strategy that will be effective in addressing the core competencies of nursing practice and how these are impacted by staffing concerns, particularly when there are significant issues involving quality of care that must be addressed on a continuous basis (Benton, 2012). Acts of nursing –based advocacy are critical in achieving successful results in staffing as it is related to performance (Benton, 2012).

Policymaking objectives must focus on adequate staffing so that nurses are able to provide the expected level of care. Nurses must be actively involved in advocating for policy so that they are successful in achieving high quality care and treatment at the desired level (Oestberg, 2012). There are critical factors to consider in the development of new practice methods to ensure that patient care quality is not compromised and that policies are reflective of the true needs of nurses in modern healthcare environments, rather than relying on antiquated policies that do not reflect current trends (Oestberg, 2012).

Strategic choices must also be addressed using a public forum, such as media support and advocacy, whenever possible. This will enable nurses to improve their stance regarding patient care quality and treatment in a greater public context. Furthermore, strategy must include the development of new perspectives to encourage ongoing growth and change within nursing practice so that advocacy efforts are accurate and timely to improve quality of care for these patients (Spetz et.al, 2013).

Conclusion

Nurse staffing issues are an ongoing problem in healthcare organizations that require greater attention to emerging trends and other concerns that ultimately impact quality of care. Therefore, nurses must have a voice in developing and updating these policies, along with a means of establishing new frameworks for growth that will advocate for fair and equitable decision-making within the nursing environment. Strategic approaches must be considered to enable nurses to be successful in achieving adequate staffing across units on a continuous basis.

References

Benton, D. (2012). Advocating globally to shape policy and strengthen nursing’s influence. Online journal of issues in nursing, 17(1).

Oestberg, F. (2012). Policy and politics: Why nurses should get involved. Nursing2013, 42(12), 46-49.

Spetz, J., Harless, D. W., Herrera, C. N., & Mark, B. A. (2013). Using minimum nurse staffing regulations to measure the relationship between nursing and hospital quality of care. Medical Care Research and Review, 70(4), 380-399.

Welton, J. M. (2011). Nurse staffing and inpatient mortality: is the question outcomes or nursing value?. Medical care, 49(12), 1045-1046.