Mandating Nurse-Patient Ratios - Essay Example

Nurse’s advocacy has further initiated this change within the policies and regulations, which governs the overall healthcare unit (Blais & Hayes, 2010).

In California, under the new legislative policy, nurses cared for fewer patients on average as compared to other countries where the ratio is higher about the attendance of patients by the nurses i.e. more patients are attended by fewer nurses. Considering, various reports it has been ascertained that with the implementation of California -mandated staffing ratios, there has been a massive increment in the overall job satisfaction degree deciphered by the nurses along with an acceleration in the quality of patient care (Aiken, Sloane, Cimiotti, Clarke, Flynn, Seago, Spetz & Smith, 2010; Abood, 2007).
I wish to undertake the following strategies for influencing the legislative members and initiating change within the healthcare system of the state related to mandated –staffing ratios. To foster change within the healthcare system, it is necessary to enter the legislative forum of the state. The next level of strategy for legalizing mandate-staffing ratios within the healthcare sector of the state will incorporate a clear understanding of the legislative processes. Furthermore, for influencing the members of the legislative assembly to gain votes and implement the plan of mandate-staffing ratios, it is necessary to identify the key and powerful players within the forum. Understanding the proceedings of the committee and effective communication with the legislative members will further ensure positive support for my viewpoint and help me pass the legislation on nurse-patient ratios.

Strategies to Be Undertaken At the Local Level
The local level jurisdiction works to support development within the local community owing to which, understanding and responding to the local community needs will be mandatory. Correspondingly, I shall initially focus on justifying the objectives of my legislation policy based on the nurse-patient ratio. The consequences faced by the local community due to the falling nurse-patient ratio, such as degraded quality services, increased stress upon nurses, economic difficulties, and others will also be referred to at this stage, based on empirical evidence. Correspondingly, a to-the-point policy brief including the objective of the policy, the intended measures to be taken, and the expected outcomes will be produced at the local level to persuade votes in passing my legislative proposal.

Strategies to Be Undertaken At the State Level
At the state level, the obligations of the legislative bodies shall be more demanding than that observed at the local level. In this stage, along with the policy brief produced at the local level, another policy brief will be provided to the state-level committee, addressing the consequences led by the falling nurse-patient ratio within the broader society. Initially, an adequate understanding of the legislative process needs to be developed to persuade the voters in a systematic and all-inclusive manner. Undoubtedly, their attention needs to be drawn toward the much serious effects of the falling nurse-patient ratio, showing the actual need for implementing my legislative policy. In this regard, I would also request for new research to be undertaken at the state level, which will deliver empirical evidence to the context.

Increasing My Power to Influence Votes
To increase my power in persuading the voters and getting my legislative policy get passed, I will consider taking the assistance of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). With the aid of these influential bodies, I shall be able to produce recent health reports addressing the nurse-patient ratio as a major concern in front of the legislative assembly. To be mentioned, in recent survey reports, at the global, national as well as local contexts, it has been ascertained that quality services within the healthcare sector, at a reasonable cost, are becoming a major concern for society. Referring to these survey reports, which include empirical evidence and persuasive facts addressing the consequences of the falling nurse-patient ratio, I shall be able to increase my power and persuade the voters. Support from these organizations and evaluation based on empirical evidence shall enhance my influential power to persuade maximum voters. Apart from the aforementioned strategies, I shall also intend to obtain support from the common people and nursing professionals both at the local and state levels to persuade the voters and pass my legislative proposal. Read More