Nurses Report Staffing Shortages Impact Patient Care

    An American Nurses Association "Safe Staffing" poll of more than 10,000 nurses reports widespread concern that inadequate nurse staffing is negatively impacting the quality of patient care, according to Dr. Kevin Kavanaugh in "Hospitals Reckless to Leave Floors Short of Nurses" published by the Lexington Herald-Leader on June 28.  Of the nurses polled almost 75% reported that staffing on their units is not sufficient, well over half knew a colleague that had left nursing because of concerns for short staffing, and that almost 50% would not be confident in the care provided a loved one by the hospital where they worked.
    Dr. Kavanaugh also reports that, while Medicare regulations require that nursing help be always available for bedside assistance for a patient, well less than two-thirds of the patients responding to a poll by the American Medical Association found such assistance available.  Also, only slightly more than two-thirds of the respondents reported finding their hospital rooms and bathrooms clean. 

Robert L. Abell
www.RobertAbellLaw.com