Question

DISCUSSION WEEK 3

Please write a paragraph for each question (total 3 paragraphs)

• Answer ALL PARTS of each question to earn a full points.
• Support your response with the appropriate citation from your textbook.

Discussion Topic:

1. How does the ANA’s Code of Ethics address a nurse’s responsibility to health care quality?
2. Describe why the nursing shortage is a major national issue in the United States. How could a nursing shortage in other countries around the world affect the nursing shortage in the United States?
3. Did California take the right approach in passing the law that mandated minimum nurse staffing ratios? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

1. ANA's Code of ethics and Health care Quality:

The standards that govern the conduct of a person especially a member of a profession is called Ethics.  American Nurses  Association ( ANA)'s Code of ethics refers to a set of standards that govern the conduct of nursing professionals that inturn can contribute to the improvement of Health care Quality. According to ANA, the nurse has to practice with compassion and respect for inherent dignity and worth and uniqueness of every person. She has to show the primary commitment to patients and should promote, protect and advocate the patient's health , safety and rights.The nurse should collaborate to other health professionals to reduce the health disparity , to promote health and protect human rights. She has the responsibility for herself and for others in promoting health and safety, integrity and wholeness . She has to work for continous personal and professional growth. These nurse's responsibility can contribute to the improvement of Healthcare quality and equity.

2. Shortage of nurses: A major issue

Nursing shortage is a major national issue in United States. As the percentage of aged population is increasing day by day in the country, there is huge need of nurses to care for the elderly and others. Nurse's shortage in Healthcare settings may cause long working hours and burn out of existing nurses, that inturn leads to fatigue and injury to the nurses, increased medical errors, increased mortality and morbidity rate in patients. Statistic reports show that there is need of 11 million additional nurses to US .Retirement of senior nurses also cause shortage of nursing staff ratio in the nation.   

3. Shortage of nurses in other countries:

Shortage of nurses in other countries all around the globe may also affects the nurse shortage in US. More countries are recruiting nurses with advanced salaries and facilities. The active recruitment process shows the inter- country shortage of nursing faculties and nurse educators. Migration from one country to another country for better living conditions and salaries are common now a days. US may experience further shortage of nurses in coming years also as other countries are actively recruiting nurses from countries like India, and other Asian countries , which are the main sources of nurses to US from decades.

4. California's law on minimum nurse staffing ratios :

Yes, California took a right approach in passing the law that mandated minimum staff- nursing ratios of ' one nurse for every five patient ' . Different researches revealed that after implementation of the law , occupational injuries among nurses, such as illnees and nurse injuries, reduced to 30 %. The law mandated the staff nurse and patient ratio for ICU as 1: 2 , that ensured a high quality nursing care in ICU sessions, that resulted in significantly lower mortality rate in ICUs.