American Nurses Association

Please answer the following Discussion Questions. Please be certain to answer the three questions on this week DQ and to provide a well-developed and complete answer to receive credit. Your post must have 3 references for full credit. Also, please ensure to have read the assigned chapters for the current week.

Case Study, Chapter 10, Mandatory Minimum Staffing Ratios

A nurse manager is attending a national convention and is attending a concurrent session on staffing ratios. Minimum staffing ratios are being discussed in the nurse manager’s own state. The nurse manager has a number of questions about staffing ratios that the session is covering. The nurse manager knows that evidence exists that increasing the number of RNs in the staffing mix leads to safer workplaces for nurses and higher quality of care for patients.

1. What are the three general approaches recommended by the American Nurses Association (2017) to maintain sufficient staffing?

2. Should LPNs be counted to meet minimum mandatory staffing ratios?

3. Analyze what proponents and critics say about whether mandatory minimum staffing ratios are needed.

Requirements: 300

Answer preview

Most proponents and critics believe that the minimum nurse-patient ratio will increase hospital costs as they will need more wages and benefits to attract the required candidates, which many health care’s cannot afford. Also, those ratio laws might cause patients to wait for a longer period before admission, and even if there are available beds, nurses won’t be able to attend to them due to ratio requirements. Additionally, such laws don’t help in emergencies that require

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American Nurses Association
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