Safe staffing for nurse and patient safety act of 2023 Advocacy essay assignment
NURS-6050 Week 4: Assignment – Legislation Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement – Safe Staffing for nurse and Patient Safety Act of 2023 Advocacy Essay Assignment
To Prepare:
- Select a bill that has been proposed (not one that has been enacted) using the congressional websites provided in the Learning Resources.
The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Legislation Grid; 1-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement)
Be sure to add a title page, an introduction, purpose statement, and a conclusion. This is an APA paper.
Part 1: Legislation Grid
Based on the health-related bill (proposed, not enacted) you selected, complete the Legislation Grid Template. Be sure to address the following:
- Determine the legislative intent of the bill you have reviewed.
- Identify the proponents/opponents of the bill.
- Identify the target populations addressed by the bill.
- Where in the process is the bill currently? Is it in hearings or committees?
Part 2: Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement
Based on the health-related bill you selected, develop a 1-page Legislation Testimony/Advocacy Statement that addresses the following:
- Advocate a position for the bill you selected and write testimony in support of your position.
- Explain how the social determinants of income, age, education, or gender affect this legislation.
- Describe how you would address the opponent to your position. Be specific and provide examples.
- At least 2 outside resources and 2-3 course specific resources are used.
Advocacy for the Safe Staffing for Nurse and Patient Safety Act of 2023
Part I
Legislation Grid Template
Use this document to complete Part 1 of the Module 2 Assessment Legislation Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement
| Health-related Bill Name |
Safe Staffing for Nurse and Patient Safety Act of 2023 (AHRQ, 2024) |
| Bill Number | H.R. 2581 |
| Description | This bill requires every healthcare facility to adopt safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. The bill would prevent nurses from caring for more patients than they are capable of safely handling at any given time, thus decreasing errors and the quality of care provided (American Nurses Association, 2023). It will also create good working conditions for the nurses themselves in order to prevent burnout and turnover. |
| Federal or State? | Federal |
| Legislative Intent | This bill will promote patient safety and quality care by requiring hospitals and other healthcare facilities to meet minimum standards of nurse staffing so that each nurse will be able to manage their workload in the delivery of the highest form of patient care. |
| Proponents/ Opponents | Proponents: Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky; Senator Sherrod Brown. |
| Opponents: Hospital administrators, some healthcare organizations citing increased costs, and concerns about operational flexibility. | |
| Target Population | Hospital patients, particularly those in acute care settings, and nurses working in healthcare facilities.
PLACE YOUR ORDER HERE |
| Status of the bill (Is it in hearings or committees?) | The bill is currently in committee, where it is being reviewed and considered before moving to a potential floor vote. NURS-6050 Week 4: Assignment – Legislation Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement – Safe Staffing for nurse and Patient Safety Act of 2023 Advocacy Essay Assignment |
| General Notes/Comments
|
This bill responds to ongoing issues of nurse burnout and patient safety concerns related to staffing levels. Supporters argue that safe staffing ratios are necessary to protect both nurses and patients, while opponents worry about the financial impact on healthcare systems. |
PART II
Advocacy for the Safe Staffing for Nurse and Patient Safety Act of 2023
The Safe Staffing for Nurses and Patient Safety Act of 2023 is landmark legislation that solves the growing crisis in health staffing and protects both patient outcomes and well-being. This bill will require ratios of nurse-to-patient staffing for safety that will help reduce burnout, minimize medical errors, and ultimately improve patient care. Nurses are at the very center of healthcare delivery, and it is no secret that an increasing number are overwhelmed by dangerous staffing shortages in hospitals across the nation (Tamata & Mohammadnezhad, 2022). These conditions not only put the patients in danger but also put the nurses under immense pressure that could threaten their mental and physical health.
Income, age, education, and gender make up the societal determinants that mix directly to determine the impact of this proposed legislation. Communities with lower incomes normally have hospitals that are understaffed to a crippling degree, diminishing patient care. Older patients, by nature requiring more care, become highly vulnerable in understaffed facilities.
Also, nursing is a female-dominated profession, and inequities in pay and working conditions because of gender are ongoing; hence, this staffing ensures that social justice around safe care is observed (Mwetulundila & Indongo, 2022). The bill ensures that underserved populations receive equal access to quality health care and supports nurses in caring for their patients’ needs.
Opponents of the bill argue that staffing mandates would be financially burdensome for hospitals, especially smaller and rural ones. However, this argument is far outweighed by evidence of the fact that appropriate staffing reduces costly complications and hospital readmissions, saving money in the long run (McHugh et al., 2021). Hospitals that invest in safe staffing see improved nurse retention, reducing recruitment and training costs. For example, a study in California indicated that hospitals with safe staffing ratios realized savings through costs associated with temporary staffing and turnover of nurses (Dierkes et al., 2021). Safe staffing is not only economically viable but also intrinsic to constructing a sustainable and quality healthcare system.
References
Dierkes, A., Do, D., Morin, H., Rochman, M., Sloane, D., & McHugh, M. (2021). The impact of California’s staffing mandate and the economic recession on registered nurse staffing levels: A longitudinal analysis. Nursing Outlook, 70(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2021.09.007
McHugh, M., Aiken, L., Sloane, D., Windsor, C., Douglas, C., & Yates, P. (2021). Effects of nurse-to-patient ratio legislation on nurse staffing and patient mortality, readmissions, and length of stay: a prospective study in a panel of hospitals. The Lancet, 397(10288), 1905–1913. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00768-6
Mwetulundila, P., & Indongo, N. (2022). Gender Equity and Impedes of Career Progression in the Nursing Profession in Khomas Region of Namibia. SAGE Open Nursing, 8, 237796082210746. https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608221074652
Tamata, A. T., & Mohammadnezhad, M. (2022). A Systematic Review Study on the Factors Affecting Shortage of Nursing Workforce in the Hospitals. Nursing Open, 10(3), 1247–1257. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1434 NURS-6050 Week 4: Assignment – Legislation Grid and Testimony/Advocacy Statement – Safe Staffing for nurse and Patient Safety Act of 2023 Advocacy Essay Assignment
