Advocating for Safe Nurse-to-Patient Ratios: Strategies for Healthcare Reform
The poor work environment prevalent within the nursing profession must be amended, attributed
mainly to insufficient competent nursing staff. Nurses must engage in advocacy efforts to secure the
enactment of federal regulations mandating that hospitals that participate in the Medicare and
Medicaid initiatives adhere to prescribed ratios of registered nurses to patients. (Anders, 2021). The lack
of compliance with the mandates may lead to a substantial reduction in the nursing workforce. Efforts
by nurse associations and legislative initiatives are essential for attaining optimal nurse-to-patient ratios.
Nurse professionals can lobby for the Hospital Patient Safety and Quality of Care Act. This act provides a
structure for legislative strategies and recommendations to ensure that healthcare facilities uphold the
highest levels of patient safety and quality of care (Anders, 2021).
The proposed law requires healthcare facilities to provide a plan to the Department of Health and
Human Services to ensure enough nursing personnel for each unit. The department is also responsible
for adjusting Medicare reimbursements to cover the extra hospital costs. Supplementary finances can
be allocated to increase the number of nurses and provide subsidies for nurses' mobility to extend
healthcare services to underserved communities. The nursing community is advocating for Congress to
champion durable legislation that will safeguard significant workplace reforms. The focus of nurses is on
enhancing work environments, encompassing the establishment of an appropriate nurse-to-patient
ratio. If these concerns remain unaddressed, the insufficiency of nurses may persist as a potential
hazard to public welfare. Implementing mandatory safe staffing levels in hospitals is practical and
financially advantageous. Therefore, improving healthcare requires nurses, patient advocates, and
wellness insurance companies to work together toward progress. Subsequently, with a regulated nurse-
patient ratio, health providers can focus on providing quality patient care without worrying about
overburdening (Anders, 2021).
Strategies
Clinicians have a significant opportunity to shape the workforce and healthcare legislation. How money
is allocated, and healthcare is delivered is decided by nurses when it comes to municipal and
congressional policies regarding healthcare. Nurses must have a place at the table where decisions are
made to guarantee that legislative decisions are made with an understanding of the healthcare sector
and are patient-oriented. Participating in sessions allows nurses to interact with representatives to help
nurses voice their ideas. Nursing professionals benefit much from advocacy and engagement in health
policy(Morris, 2023). The COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, brought attention to numerous healthcare
inequities. Particularly in policy-making, nurses have a unique role in redesigning the healthcare system.
Policymakers and nurses use various techniques to assess proposed health policy modifications to
promote patient safety. The nurses also advise advocacy groups, legislative experts, and research
organizations on public health and nursing policy. Nurses can participate in various ways for their voices
to be heard, including producing legislative briefings, interacting with lawmakers, and assisting with the
interpretation of research so that policymakers become more familiar with the health data (Morris,
2023).
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