Nursing Research Question
My nurse-driven topic is exceeding the norms of nurse-to-patient ratios, which leads to adverse patient outcomes and rapid burnout of nurses. The PICOT question is: In adult hospital wards (P), how does enforcing a mandated nurse-to-patient ratio (I), compared to not having a mandated ratio (C), impact the quality of patient care over one year (O, T)?
Identifying Problem
The issue that needs to be fixed is the potential harm that high nurse-to-patient ratios could do to the level of care provided in adult hospital wards. This situation affects many people, including hospital patients, inpatient nurses, and healthcare executives (Soósová, 2021). Additionally, it might lead to increased nursing burnout, which would boost turnover rates and worsen the staffing shortfall. This issue’s importance is further demonstrated by the elevated risk of medical errors and patient safety accidents that come along with a stressed-out workforce.
Issue Background
An essential problem in optimizing the use of medical personnel in a modern organization is the insufficient regulation of the professional workload of secondary medical personnel. In recent years, various legislative, legal, and regulatory documents regulating the activities of the healthcare industry have pointed to the need for purposeful, systematic work to improve the staffing of medical organizations (Soósova, 2021). Thus, the background indicates an aggravation of the problem of unbalanced nurse-to-patient ratios.
Recognizing Problem
I have identified this problem by studying scientific research based on an analysis of the dynamics of the number of secondary medical personnel in medical institutions and an assessment of the salary structure of medical workers of various qualification categories. To increase visibility, the study used a descriptive method to represent the change in the number of medical personnel for 2019-2020 (Soósova, 2021). The studies I have conducted have indicated that the problem really exists and is serious for all stakeholders.
Evidence
The numerical data presented in the scientific study by the scholar support the problem. It was revealed that in the period studied by the scholar, 2019-2020, the quantity of secondary medical personnel decreased. By the end of 2019, compared with 2020, the reduction reached 4.6% (Soósova, 2021). Despite the annual training of young specialists in the industry, there have been no positive dynamics of increasing the number of nursing medical personnel for many years.
Key Findings
The first key finding related to my problem is that this shortage of personnel is explained by a sharp decrease in the social status of the employee, low wages, as well as the underestimation of patients and managers of the professional contribution of nursing staff to the treatment process (Soósova, 2021). This contributes to the development of professional maladaptation among employees, as well as additional psychological stress, which ultimately leads to retirement from the profession.
The second major finding related to the research is that high staff turnover associated with poor quality of life in rural areas and non-compliance with labor costs and wages are the reasons for the decline in interest in this profession on the part of young cadres. This is especially noticeable when applying for jobs in rural medical institutions (Soósova, 2021). The staffing percentage of medical and preventive institutions with nursing specialists is decreasing annually, and it is challenging to ensure their staffing due to the graduation of young specialists.
Evidence-Based Practice Model
Evaluating change outcomes is an evidence-based practice framework that aligns with my selected topic. This model includes a study of successful nurse-patient ratio changes and an assessment of the correlation between patient outcome improvement as a result and the benefits for nurses and the healthcare institution as a whole. Thus, evaluating the outcomes of the change model is the most applicable to this problem, as it demonstrates the advantages of its resolution.
Reference
Soósová, M. S. (2021). Association between nurses’ burnout, hospital patient safety climate and quality of nursing care. Central European Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, 12(1), 245–256. Web.