Title: The Reality of the Nursing Crisis - Elite Learning
Headings: The Reality of the Nursing Crisis
The Reality of the Nursing Crisis
How Hospitals Cope with Being Understaffed
The Effects of Understaffing
The California Example
Final Thoughts
About The Author
By: Adela Ellis

Content: A study published in Critical Care Medicine found that in cases where there was not enough nursing staff, more patients died in intensive care than when hospitals were adequately staffed. Another study found that by increasing a nurse’s workload for one patient, the chances of another patient dying in that hospital increased by 7%. The California Example
California is one of the few states in America that regulates hospital staffing. It is also the only state to put a cap on how many patients a nurse can care for at one time. Research conducted in California hospitals has shown there were fewer postoperative deaths in comparison to hospitals in Nevada and Maryland where such restrictions were not in place. Despite these findings, hospitals across the United States continue to experience understaffing issues. Although it is a difficult situation, there are several ways hospitals cope with the harsh realities of understaffing. Keep Upper Management Informed
A lack of communication within the workplace can lead to additional discrepancies when a medical facility is understaffed. It is essential that all levels of management hold regular meetings and be kept informed of staffing numbers. Hiring temporary employees to handle the workload during flu season, for example, can help to alleviate employee stress and improve patient care.