DEVELOPING ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES
Competing needs arise within any organization as employees seek to meet their targets and leaders seek to meet company goals. As a leader, successful management of these goals requires establishing priorities and allocating resources accordingly.
Within a healthcare setting, the needs of the workforce, resources, and patients are often in conflict. Mandatory overtime, implementation of staffing ratios, use of unlicensed assisting personnel, and employer reductions of education benefits are examples of practices that might lead to conflicting needs in practice.
Leaders can contribute to both the problem and the solution through policies, action, and inaction. In this Assignment, you will further develop the white paper you began work on in Module 1 by addressing competing needs within your organization.
RESOURCES
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
- American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statementsLinks to an external site.. Silver Spring, MD: Author. Retrieved from
https://www.nursingworld.org/coe-view-only
Note: Review all, with special attention to “Provision 6” (pp. 23–26).
- Kelly, P., & Porr, C. (2018). Ethical nursing care versus cost containment: Considerations to enhance RN practiceLinks to an external site.. OJIN: Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(1), Manuscript 6. doi:10.3912/OJIN.Vol23No01Man06. Retrieved from
http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-23-2018/No1-Jan-2018/Ethical-Nursing-Cost-Containment.html
- Milliken, A. (2018). Ethical awareness: What it is and why it mattersLinks to an external site.. OJIN: Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(1), Manuscript 1. doi:10.3912/OJIN.Vol23No01Man01. Retrieved from
http://ojin.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/TableofContents/Vol-23-2018/No1-Jan-2018/Ethical-Awareness.html
To Prepare:
Review the national healthcare issue/stressor you examined in your Assignment for Module 1, and review the analysis of the healthcare issue/stressor you selected.
Identify and review two evidence-based scholarly resources that focus on proposed policies/practices to apply to your selected healthcare issue/stressor.
Reflect on the feedback you received from your colleagues on your Discussion post regarding competing needs.
The Assignment (1-2 pages):
Developing Organizational Policies and Practices
Add a section to the 2-3 page paper you submitted in Module 1. The new section should address the following in 1-2 pages:
Identify and describe at least two competing needs impacting your selected healthcare issue/stressor.
Describe a relevant policy or practice in your organization that may influence your selected healthcare issue/stressor.
Critique the policy for ethical considerations, and explain the policy’s strengths and challenges in promoting ethics.
Recommend one or more policy or practice changes designed to balance the competing needs of resources, workers, and patients, while addressing any ethical shortcomings of the existing policies. Be specific and provide examples.
Cite evidence that informs the healthcare issue/stressor and/or the policies, and provide two scholarly resources in support of your policy or practice recommendations.
Due to the nature of this assignment, your instructor may require more than 7 days to provide you with quality feedback.
BY DAY 7 OF WEEK 3
Submit your revised paper.
SUBMISSION INFORMATION
Before submitting your final assignment, you can check your draft for authenticity. To check your draft, access the Turnitin Drafts from the Start Here area.
To submit your completed assignment, save your Assignment as WK3Assgn_LastName_Firstinitial
Then, click on Start Assignment near the top of the page.
Next, click on Upload File and select Submit Assignment for review.
Rubric
NURS_6053_Module02_Week03_Assignment_Rubric
| NURS_6053_Module02_Week03_Assignment_Rubric | ||||||
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAdd a section to the 2-3 page paper you submitted in Module 1. For this assignment, in 1-2 pages, address the following: · Identify and describe at least two competing needs impacting your selected healthcare issue/stressor. |
|
25 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome· Describe a relevant policy or practice in your organization that may influence your selected healthcare issue/stressor. · Critique the policy for ethical considerations and explain the policy’s strengths and challenges in promoting ethics. |
|
30 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome· Recommend one or more policy or practice changes designed to balance the competing needs of resources, workers, and patients while addressing any ethical shortcomings of the existing policies. Be specific and provide examples. |
|
25 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeResource Synthesis |
|
5 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWritten Expression and Formatting—Paragraph Development and Organization:Paragraphs make clear points that support well-developed ideas, flow logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused—neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction is provided, which delineates all required criteria. |
|
5 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWritten Expression and Formatting—English Writing Standards: Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation. |
|
5 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWritten Expression and Formatting: The paper follows correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbers, running head, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list. |
|
5 pts | ||||
| Total Points: 100 | ||||||
DEVELOPING ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES
**Developing Organizational Policies and Practices**
**Competing Needs in Healthcare Organizations**
In the context of our organization, two competing needs impacting the healthcare issue/stressor of nurse staffing ratios are:
- **Patient Safety:** Ensuring adequate nurse staffing levels to provide quality care, prevent medical errors, and promote patient safety.
- **Cost Containment:** Managing resources efficiently and controlling expenses to maintain financial viability and sustainability.
**Relevant Policy or Practice:**
One relevant policy in our organization that may influence nurse staffing ratios is the implementation of mandatory overtime. When staffing levels are insufficient to meet patient needs, nurses may be required to work overtime to fill the gaps in coverage.
**Critique of Policy for Ethical Considerations:**
While mandatory overtime may address immediate staffing shortages, it raises ethical concerns regarding nurse well-being, patient safety, and work-life balance. Nurses working excessive hours may experience fatigue, burnout, and increased risk of errors, compromising patient care quality and safety.
**Strengths and Challenges:**
Strengths:
– Immediate solution to staffing shortages.
– Ensures continuity of care for patients.
Challenges:
– Negatively impacts nurse morale and job satisfaction.
– Increases risk of nurse burnout and turnover.
– Compromises patient safety and quality of care.
**Recommendations for Policy/Practice Changes:**
- Implement nurse staffing ratios to ensure adequate nurse-to-patient ratios based on acuity levels.
- Provide incentives for voluntary overtime rather than mandating it.
- Invest in workforce development and recruitment strategies to address long-term staffing needs.
**Evidence-Based Support:**
Research by Kelly and Porr (2018) highlights the importance of ethical nursing care in contrast to cost containment measures. They emphasize the need for organizational policies that prioritize patient safety and nurse well-being. Additionally, Milliken (2018) discusses the ethical implications of staffing practices on patient outcomes and nurse satisfaction, advocating for policies that promote ethical awareness and decision-making in healthcare organizations.
In conclusion, balancing competing needs in healthcare organizations requires thoughtful consideration of ethical implications and strategic policy decisions to prioritize patient safety, nurse well-being, and organizational sustainability.
References:
– Kelly, P., & Porr, C. (2018). Ethical nursing care versus cost containment: Considerations to enhance RN practice. OJIN: Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(1), Manuscript 6.
– Milliken, A. (2018). Ethical awareness: What it is and why it matters. OJIN: Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(1), Manuscript 1.
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