Lack of optimized Nurse-to-Patient Ratios
The lack of optimized nurse-to-patient ratios increases morbidity and mortality rates and treatment costs (Drennan & Ross, 2019).
Key Factors that Directly Influence the Problem
Lack of optimized nurse-to-patient ratios is associated with increased medication errors, prolonged hospital stays, and patient and nursing staff dissatisfaction (Drennan & Ross, 2019; Ghafoor et al., 2021; Winter et al., 2020).
| Factors that Directly Relate to the Problem | Precise Unit of Measurement
(Days, Dollars, %, etc.) |
Authoritative Source(s) for Factor and Unit of Measurement |
| 1. Medication errors | Percent of medical errors during one year | (Drennan & Ross, 2019). |
| 2. Prolonged hospital stays | No days spent in the hospital from the time of admission. | (Drennan & Ross, 2019; Ghafoor et al., 2021). |
| 3. Patient dissatisfaction | Periodic patient satisfaction surveys. | (Winter et al., 2020). |
| 4. Nursing staff dissatisfaction | Periodic nurse satisfaction surveys. | (Saika, 2018) |
| Example: Sepsis | % of Hospital Acquired Infections during one year | The Joint Commission (2017). |
Value Proposition to the Organization
Data analysis of the lack of optimized nurse-to-patient ratios will provide invaluable information and form the basis for policy formulation to optimize staff ratios and improve organizational productivity.
Value Proposition/Contribution to My Professional Interests/Goals
This project aligns with my career goals by helping me to develop pertinent knowledge and research to become competent at strategic planning.
Background: Review of the Literature
| Authoritative Source (APA Format) | How the Source Directly Relates to the Problem (One-Sentence Summary) |
| Drennan, V. M., & Ross, F. (2019). Global nurse shortages – The facts, the impact, and action for change. British Medical Bulletin, 130(1), 25–37. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldz014 | This article identifies the factors directly related to the nursing shortage and determines how these factors are measured. |
| Ghafoor, Yasmeen, Yaqoob, M. A., Bilal, M. A., & Ghafoor, M. S. (2021). Impact of Nurse Shortage on Patient Care. Saudi Journal of Nursing and Health Care, 4(4), 114–119. https://doi.org/10.36348/sjnhc.2021.v04i04.003
|
This paper evaluates the nursing shortage problem and identifies the factors that are directly related to the problem. |
| Marć, M., Bartosiewicz, A., Burzyńska, J., Chmiel, Z., & Januszewicz, P. (2019). A nursing shortage – a prospect of global and local policies. International Nursing Review, 66(1), 9–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12473
|
This article evaluates the problem of nursing shortage (optimized nurse-to-patient ratios) and the strategies proposed to tackle this problem. |
| McDermott-Levy, R., Leffers, J., & Mayaka, J. (2018). Ethical Principles and Guidelines of Global Health Nursing Practice. Nursing Outlook, 66(5), 473–481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2018.06.013 | This article identifies the ethical principles (beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and autonomy) that all nurses in healthcare facilities should uphold. |
| Saikia, D. (2018). Nursing shortages in the rural public health sector of India. Journal of Population and Social Studies, 26(2), 101–118. https://doi.org/10.25133/JPSSv26n2.008 | This article evaluates the problem of nursing shortage (optimized nurse-to-patient ratios) in India and proposes strategies that can be used to mitigate the problem. |
| Winter, V., Schreyögg, J., & Thiel, A. (2020). Hospital staff shortages: Environmental and organizational determinants and implications for patient satisfaction. Health Policy, 124(4), 380–388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2020.01.001 | This article evaluates the problem of hospital staff shortages and identifies factors that are directly related to staff shortages. |
| Zhang, X., Tai, D., Pforsich, H., & Lin, V. W. (2018). United States Registered Nurse Workforce Report Card and Shortage Forecast: A Revisit. American Journal of Medical Quality, 33(3), 229–236. https://doi.org/10.1177/1062860617738328
|
This paper evaluates the problem of nursing shortages in the United States and explains nurse satisfaction as a factor directly related to the problem. |
References
Drennan, V. M., & Ross, F. (2019). Global nurse shortages – The facts, the impact, and action for change. British Medical Bulletin, 130(1), 25–37. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldz014
Ghafoor, Yasmeen, Yaqoob, M. A., Bilal, M. A., & Ghafoor, M. S. (2021). Impact of Nurse Shortage on Patient Care. Saudi Journal of Nursing and Health Care, 4(4), 114–119. https://doi.org/10.36348/sjnhc.2021.v04i04.003
Marć, M., Bartosiewicz, A., Burzyńska, J., Chmiel, Z., & Januszewicz, P. (2019). A nursing shortage – a prospect of global and local policies. International Nursing Review, 66(1), 9–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12473
McDermott-Levy, R., Leffers, J., & Mayaka, J. (2018). Ethical Principles and Guidelines of Global Health Nursing Practice. Nursing Outlook, 66(5), 473–481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2018.06.013
Saikia, D. (2018). Nursing shortages in the rural public health sector of India. Journal of Population and Social Studies, 26(2), 101–118. https://doi.org/10.25133/JPSSv26n2.008
Winter, V., Schreyögg, J., & Thiel, A. (2020). Hospital staff shortages: Environmental and organizational determinants and implications for patient satisfaction. Health Policy, 124(4), 380–388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2020.01.001
Zhang, X., Tai, D., Pforsich, H., & Lin, V. W. (2018). United States Registered Nurse Workforce Report Card and Shortage Forecast: A Revisit. American Journal of Medical Quality, 33(3), 229–236. https://doi.org/10.1177/1062860617738328
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Question 
Select a data review project topic. Then, write a 1-2 page topic description that includes the problem statement and list of supporting references.
Lack of optimized Nurse-to-Patient Ratios
Introduction
Note: Each assessment of your capstone project is built on the work you have completed in previous assessments. Therefore, you must complete the assessments in this course in the order in which they are presented.
This is an exciting time in your academic journey. It is now time to self-lead, practice health care competencies, and explore a topic of professional interest to you. The capstone data review project should contribute value to a healthcare organization and your professional career development goals.
This assessment provides an opportunity to identify a relevant healthcare problem that warrants analysis. It also helps to conduct a thorough review of the current literature that relates to the problem.
Overview and Preparation
Note: This assessment is the foundation for your capstone project. Therefore, you must complete this assessment before starting any other assessments in this course.
To prepare for this assessment, read the following documents:
Data Review Project Overview [PDF].
Project Topic Selection [PDF].
The information in these two documents will help you choose a project of reasonable scope central to your career development goals. It would be of value to your targeted healthcare organization. In addition, they provide guidance, recommendations, and examples that are crucial to completing this assessment. You are encouraged to download both documents and keep them as ready references.
In addition, download and review the template you will use to complete this assessment:
Assessment 1 Topic Selection Template [DOCX].
Requirements
Select your data review project topic, and provide a topic description that includes the problem statement and list of supporting references.
Document Format and Length
Submit your project topic, problem description, problem statement, and references in the Assessment 1 Topic Selection Template. Your finished document should be 1–2 pages in length.
Format your citations and references using APA style.
Topic Selection
Note: The requirements outlined below correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Be sure that your topic selection process addresses each point at a minimum. You may also want to read the assessment scoring guide to understand how each criterion will be assessed.
Write a clear, one-sentence problem statement for a proposed project.
State the issue in the form of a problem and add a citation.
Identify the key performance indicators and outcome measures for a proposed project.
Locate authoritative sources on performance measurement.
Articulate the value of a proposed project to an organization and one’s professional health care leadership competency development goals.
Review the selected organization’s website to determine its vision, mission, culture, strategic focus, and how it provides patient value.
Ensure that you understand what is meant by the term value proposition.
Consider a strategic, systems perspective when contemplating value to the organization.
Be sure you have evidence to support your conclusions.
Summarize current and relevant authoritative literature.
Be concise and substantive. Provide sufficient information in the summary to adequately cover the selected topic.
Visit the Capella University Library to confirm what sources constitute authoritative literature. The Library Research and Information Literacy Skills page contains valuable information. You may also wish to consult the MHA Program Library Guide.
Combine clear, coherent, and original writing in APA style with relevant and credible evidence from scholarly and professional literature.
Apply correct APA formatting to your source citations.
Consider how or why a particular piece of evidence supports your main points, claims, or conclusions.
Make sure your supporting evidence is clear and explicit.
Competencies Measured
By completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:
Competency 1: Transformation: Facilitate a change process that effectively involves patients, communities, and professionals in improving and delivering health care and wellness.
Write a clear, one-sentence problem statement for a proposed project.
Identify the key performance indicators and outcome measures for a proposed project.
Competency 2: Execution: Translate strategy to develop and maintain optimal organizational performance in health care settings.
Summarize current and relevant authoritative literature.
In APA style, combine clear, coherent, and original writing with relevant and credible evidence from scholarly and professional literature.
Competency 3: People: Create an organizational climate that values and supports employees and colleagues in health care settings.
Articulate the value of a proposed project to an organization and one’s professional health care leadership competency development goals.