Organizational Policies and Practices to Support Healthcare Issues
Competing needs, including patient needs, healthcare resources, and workforce, influence policy formulation since the competing needs must be aligned with the objectives of the policy being implemented. An example is a policy addressing the infection prevention protocols for COVID-19 that should meet the needs of healthcare professionals and the patient’s needs and minimize healthcare costs. Effective use of healthcare professionals is critical in safe, quality, and cost-effective healthcare services (Figueroa et al., 2019). Inevitably, failure to provide adequate personal protective equipment will result in many healthcare professionals contracting the virus. Consequently, this will result in shortages which will negatively impact the quality of care. Additionally, the remaining healthcare professionals will also become overworked, which will result in burnout and job dissatisfaction.
Many competing needs might impact COVID-19. Therefore, healthcare professionals and leaders must balance keeping their workforce safe, providing quality care to patients, and reducing healthcare costs. Healthcare professionals have been affected by the pandemic, with many contracting the virus and some even dying (Shreffler et al., 2020). Healthcare organizations should, thus, develop a policy that protects their healthcare workers.
Evidence-Based Practices (EBP)
However, this may result in resources being limited, which may negatively affect the quality of care. Healthcare organizations should thus be guided by evidence-based practices (EBP) when developing policies. EBP allows healthcare professionals to integrate current evidence with clinical expertise to implement patient-centred care (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). One such policy is the implementation of infection prevention and control protocols. Current guidelines support the implementation of hand washing, patient isolation, and quarantine in controlling the spread of COVID-19 (Haldane et al., 2021).
References
Figueroa, C. A., Harrison, R., Chauhan, A., & Meyer, L. (2019). Priorities and challenges for health leadership and workforce management globally: A rapid review. BMC Health Services Research, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4080-7
Haldane, V., Ratnapalan, S., Perera, N., Zhang, Z., Ge, S., Choi, M., Lau, L. L., Samaraweera, S., Dodd, W., Walley, J., & Wei, X. (2021). Co-development of COVID-19 infection prevention and control guidelines in lower-middle-income countries: The ‘SPRINT’ principles. BMJ Global Health, 6(8), e006406. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006406
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2018). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.
Shreffler, J., Huecker, M., & Petrey, J. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on healthcare worker wellness: A scoping review. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, 21(5). https://doi.org/10.5811/
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Question 
Discussion: Organizational Policies and Practices to Support Healthcare Issues
Quite often, nurse leaders are faced with ethical dilemmas, such as those associated with choices between competing needs and limited resources. Resources are finite, and competition occurs daily in all organizations.
Organizational Policies and Practices to Support Healthcare Issues
For example, the use of 12-hour shifts has been a strategy to retain nurses. However, evidence suggests that as nurses work more hours in a shift, they commit more errors. How do effective leaders find a balance between the needs of the organization and the needs of ensuring quality, effective, and safe patient care?
In this Discussion, you will reflect on a national healthcare issue and examine how competing needs may impact the development of policies to address that issue.
To Prepare:
Review the Resources and think about the national healthcare issue/stressor you previously selected for study in Module 1.
Reflect on the competing needs in healthcare delivery as they pertain to the national healthcare issue/stressor you previously examined.
By Day 3 of Week 3
Post an explanation of how competing needs, such as the needs of the workforce, resources, and patients, may impact the development of policy. Then, describe any specific competing needs that may impact the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected. What are the impacts, and how might policy address these competing needs? Be specific and provide examples.