Staffing nurses in hospital.

Staffing nurses in hospital.

A primary role of nurses is to advocate for patient welfare and safety. Staffing issues aren’t limited to questions of staffing levels, but also include whether appropriate staff members are assigned to perform specific roles. Floating nurses to different units to buttress staffing levels—for -example, floating ICU nurses to the OR—is as dangerous as understaffing itself.

 

Patient advocacy doesn’t stop at the bedside but also includes being vocal about which responsibilities are outside our training and education. Staffing the right number of nurses with the right knowledge and skill base to meet the needs of patients is essential to achieving optimal nursing outcomes.

 

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