Organizational Policies and Practices to Support Healthcare Issues

Organizational Policies and Practices to Support Healthcare Issues

Introduction

The shortage of nurses has been a growing concern in recent years, and it’s expected to worsen in the future. Policies related to nursing shortages, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, have been constantly changing due to limited resources and funds available to meet the needs of patients and healthcare staff. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), maintaining adequate staffing in healthcare facilities is crucial for the safety of both healthcare personnel (HCP) and patients. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, staffing shortages will likely occur due to HCP exposures, illness, or the need to care for family members at home. Healthcare facilities need plans and processes in place to address these potential staffing shortages (CDC, 2020).

Impact of Healthcare Issues on Policies

The emergence of healthcare issues, especially one as significant as the COVID-19 pandemic, can influence policies and lead to changes in existing practices. At the beginning of the pandemic, healthcare professionals faced a lack of knowledge, plans, and resources to combat the virus. Frontline healthcare workers started contracting the virus, the number of infected patients increased, and resources became scarce. In response, healthcare policies began to change, and exceptions were made to fill these gaps. However, these policy changes were not necessarily in favor of nurses but were driven by the urgent need to address the surging cases. For example, nurse-to-patient ratios shifted from 1:1 to 1:4, and even nurses who tested positive for COVID-19 but were asymptomatic were asked to continue working (McLernon, 2020). These changes created new policies and exceptions to existing practices in hospitals nationwide. This demonstrates how the workforce, resources, and the needs of the patient population can profoundly impact healthcare policy changes and practices.

Conclusion

Healthcare issues, such as nursing shortages and the COVID-19 pandemic, have a direct influence on the development and modification of healthcare policies. While these policy changes may not always be in favor of healthcare professionals, they are driven by the competing needs of the workforce, available resources, and the healthcare needs of the population. Balancing these competing needs is a challenge that healthcare leaders must address when developing and implementing policies.

References:

CDC. (2020). Strategies to Mitigate Healthcare Personnel Staffing Shortages. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/mitigating-staff-shortages.html

McLernon, L. M. (2020, November 30). COVID-related nursing shortages hit hospitals nationwide. Retrieved from https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/11/covid-related-nursing-shortages-hit-hospitals-nationwide

Discussion: Organizational Policies and Practices to Support Healthcare Issues

In healthcare, nurse leaders often face ethical dilemmas that involve competing needs and limited resources. Resources are finite, and organizations must prioritize how they are allocated. One such example is the use of 12-hour shifts to retain nurses, which, despite its intention, may lead to increased errors due to extended work hours. The challenge for effective leaders lies in finding a balance between the organization’s needs and ensuring the delivery of quality, effective, and safe patient care.

When considering national healthcare issues, it’s important to examine how competing needs can impact policy development. These competing needs may include those of the workforce, available resources, and the needs of patients. Let’s explore how these competing needs may influence the development of policy, specifically regarding the national healthcare issue of nursing shortages and the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Impact of Competing Needs on Policy Development

The competing needs within healthcare delivery can significantly affect the development of policies. For instance, in addressing the nursing shortage exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare organizations must consider the following:

1. Workforce Needs:

The need to ensure an adequate number of nurses to provide care, especially during a crisis, may lead to policies allowing for flexible staffing arrangements, redeployment of staff, or temporary licensing of healthcare professionals from other states.

2. Resource Constraints:

Limited resources, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators, can influence policies on their allocation. Policies may prioritize the distribution of these resources based on the severity of the pandemic and the needs of healthcare workers and patients.

3. Patient Care Needs:

The needs of patients, particularly those infected with COVID-19, may require policies that expand telehealth services, create surge capacity plans, and establish protocols for patient triage and treatment.

Policy Implications

The impact of competing needs on policy development can be substantial. In response to the nursing shortage during the pandemic, some policies may have temporarily altered traditional nursing ratios and allowed asymptomatic COVID-19-positive nurses to continue working. While these changes were driven by the urgent need to provide care, they also raised concerns about patient safety and nurse well-being.

Effective policy development should aim to strike a balance between the needs of the organization, healthcare workers, and patients. For example, policies can be designed to ensure safe staffing levels while also addressing resource shortages and patient care demands. Flexibility in policy implementation and continuous evaluation are essential to adapt to evolving situations and minimize negative consequences.

In conclusion, competing needs within healthcare delivery have a direct impact on policy development. Nurse leaders and policymakers must navigate these competing needs to create policies that prioritize patient safety, support healthcare professionals, and allocate resources effectively, especially during national healthcare crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

References:

CDC. (2020). Strategies to Mitigate Healthcare Personnel Staffing Shortages. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/mitigating-staff-shortages.html

McLernon, L. M. (2020, November 30). COVID-related nursing shortages hit hospitals nationwide. Retrieved from https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/11/covid-related-nursing-shortages-hit-hospitals-nationwide