Posted: November 14th, 2023

Risks and Dangers to the Health of Patients in the Situation of Inadequate Nursing Staff

Risks and Dangers to the Health of Patients in the Situation of Inadequate Nursing Staff
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Nursing staff are essential for providing quality and safe care to patients in hospitals and other health care settings. However, many health care organizations are facing severe staffing shortages that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. These shortages have negative consequences for both nurses and patients, such as increased burnout, errors, infections, and mortality. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the risks and dangers to the health of patients in the situation of inadequate nursing staff, and some possible solutions to address this problem.

What is Inadequate Nursing Staff?
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Inadequate nursing staff refers to a situation where there are not enough nurses to meet the needs and demands of patients. This can be measured by various indicators, such as nurse-to-patient ratios, nurse workload, nurse skill mix, patient acuity, and nurse turnover. Inadequate nursing staff can result from various factors, such as insufficient recruitment and retention, high absenteeism and turnover, poor working conditions and environment, low wages and benefits, lack of education and training opportunities, and increased patient volume and complexity.

What are the Risks and Dangers to the Health of Patients in the Situation of Inadequate Nursing Staff?
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Inadequate nursing staff can have serious adverse effects on the health of patients. Some of the risks and dangers include:

– **Increased errors**: Nurses are responsible for performing many tasks that require attention, accuracy, and judgment, such as administering medications, monitoring vital signs, documenting care, and communicating with other health care providers. When nurses are understaffed, they may have less time to perform these tasks properly, leading to errors that can harm patients. For example, a study published in the **American Journal of Infection Control** showed that staff shortages and the extra burden on hospitals caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could increase the number of acquired infections and threaten patient care.

– **Increased infections**: Nurses play a key role in preventing and controlling infections in health care settings, by following standard precautions, hand hygiene, isolation protocols, and other infection prevention practices. When nurses are understaffed, they may have less time to adhere to these practices, increasing the risk of transmitting infections to themselves and their patients. For example, a study published in the **Journal of Nursing Administration** found that lower nurse staffing levels were associated with higher rates of hospital-acquired infections.

– **Increased mortality**: Nurses are also vital for detecting and responding to changes in patient conditions, such as deterioration, complications, or emergencies. When nurses are understaffed, they may have less time to monitor and intervene for their patients, increasing the risk of adverse outcomes and death. For example, a study published in the **International Journal of Nursing Studies** found that lower nurse staffing levels were associated with higher mortality rates among surgical patients.

– **Decreased quality**: Nurses also contribute to the quality of care by providing patient education, counseling, support, comfort, and satisfaction. When nurses are understaffed,
they may have less time to engage with their patients and meet their psychosocial needs,
decreasing the quality of care. For example, a study published in the **Journal of Advanced Nursing** found that lower nurse staffing levels were associated with lower patient satisfaction scores.

How Can We Address the Problem of Inadequate Nursing Staff?
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The problem of inadequate nursing staff is complex and multifaceted, requiring comprehensive
and collaborative solutions from various stakeholders. Some possible strategies include:

– **Increasing recruitment and retention**: Health care organizations should invest in attracting
and retaining qualified nurses by offering competitive wages and benefits,
providing education and training opportunities,
creating career development pathways,
and improving working conditions and environment.

– **Improving staffing policies**: Health care organizations should implement evidence-based
staffing policies that consider various factors such as nurse-to-patient ratios,
nurse workload,
nurse skill mix,
patient acuity,
and nurse turnover.
Staffing policies should also be flexible and responsive to changing patient needs
and demands.

– **Enhancing teamwork and communication**: Health care organizations should foster a culture
of teamwork and communication among nurses
and other health care providers,
by providing regular feedback,
encouraging collaboration,
and facilitating information exchange.
Teamwork and communication can help improve patient safety,
quality,
and satisfaction.

– **Leveraging technology**: Health care organizations should utilize technology
to support nurses
and enhance patient care,
by providing tools such as electronic health records,
bar-code medication administration systems,
smart infusion pumps,
and remote monitoring devices.
Technology can help reduce errors,
infections,
and workload for nurses.

Conclusion
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Inadequate nursing staff is a serious problem that affects the health of patients
and the quality of care. It can increase the risk of errors, infections, mortality, and dissatisfaction for patients, and cause burnout, stress, and turnover for nurses. To address this problem, health care organizations should implement strategies to increase recruitment and retention, improve staffing policies, enhance teamwork and communication, and leverage technology.

References
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: Cho, E., Sloane, D. M., Kim, E. Y., Kim, S., Choi, M., Yoo, I. Y., Lee, H. S., & Aiken, L. H. (2015). Effects of nurse staffing, work environments, and education on patient mortality: An observational study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 52(2), 535-542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.08.006

: Griffiths, P., Ball, J., Drennan, J., Dall’Ora, C., Jones, J., Maruotti, A., Pope, C., Saucedo, A. R., & Simon, M. (2016). Nurse staffing and patient outcomes: Strengths and limitations of the evidence to inform policy and practice. A review and discussion paper based on evidence reviewed for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Safe Staffing guideline development. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 63, 213-225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.03.012

: Van Bogaert, P., Clarke, S., Roelant, E., Meulemans, H., & Van de Heyning,
P. (2010). Impacts of unit-level nurse practice environment,
workload and burnout on nurse-reported outcomes in psychiatric hospitals: A multilevel modelling approach.
International Journal of Nursing Studies,
47(3),
357-365.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2009.08.010

: Zimlichman E., Henderson D., Tamir O., Franz C., Song P.,
Yamin C.K.,
Keohane C.,
Denham C.R.,
Bates D.W.
(2013).
Health care-associated infections: A meta-analysis of costs and financial impact on the US health care system.
American Journal of Infection Control,
41(12),
1219-1226.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2013.04.004

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