Senior Nursing Poster Session (Virtual)
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Nursing BSN
2nd Student Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
2nd Student Major
Nursing BSN
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Jessica Naber
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
For decades nurses have been fighting for safe nurse to patient ratios. Thousands of studies have been done proving that an increased patient load leads to burnout, job dissatisfaction, occupational injuries, adverse events, and patient mortality. In an effort to keep nurses at the bedside, California passed The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005. This act was the first of its kind as it established legislatively mandated nursing ratios and required staff to take several breaks throughout the day. However, mandated ratios come with a cost that most institutions cannot afford and therefore is not appropriate as a stand-alone intervention. In many hospitals nursing assignments are made by assigning rooms in “blocks” with little to no consideration of acuity. While this is a very simple assignment making method, it allows for an unfair acuity mix, which can result in increased workload and job dissatisfaction. Implementing the proposed patient acuity tool has the potential to increase nurse satisfaction, patient safety, and decrease adverse events.
Location
Virtual/Online
Start Date
November 2021
End Date
November 2021
Spring Scholars Week 2021 Event
Senior Nursing Poster Session
Fall Scholars Week 2021 Event
Senior Nursing Poster Session
Included in
Acuity Based Staffing
Virtual/Online
For decades nurses have been fighting for safe nurse to patient ratios. Thousands of studies have been done proving that an increased patient load leads to burnout, job dissatisfaction, occupational injuries, adverse events, and patient mortality. In an effort to keep nurses at the bedside, California passed The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005. This act was the first of its kind as it established legislatively mandated nursing ratios and required staff to take several breaks throughout the day. However, mandated ratios come with a cost that most institutions cannot afford and therefore is not appropriate as a stand-alone intervention. In many hospitals nursing assignments are made by assigning rooms in “blocks” with little to no consideration of acuity. While this is a very simple assignment making method, it allows for an unfair acuity mix, which can result in increased workload and job dissatisfaction. Implementing the proposed patient acuity tool has the potential to increase nurse satisfaction, patient safety, and decrease adverse events.