Veteran Affairs Staffing

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the problems related to inappropriate nurse-patient ratios and provide suggestions that may improve the problem. The American Nurses Association advocates for proper number of nursing staff for delivery of quality patient care. However, hospitals are faced with problems related to decreasing staff levels. The Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act of 2015 provides for patient protection by establishing safe staffing levels. This bill requires the staff nurse to be actively involved on committees and in the development of unit-based staffing plans. The formation of the Protest of Assignment allows nurses to advocate for change to ensure proper patient care. Nurse recruitment is another challenge that is

The American Nurses Association supports a legislative model in which nurses are encouraged to create staffing plans specific to each unit. This approach will aide in establishing staffing levels that are flexible and can be changed based on the patients needs, number of admissions to the unit, discharges and transfers during each shift (“Nurse staffing plans,” 2013). This model will assist in keeping the unit staffed appropriately and organized in need of a change during each shift. Without an organized plan like this, a nurse may be required to take on a new admission and already have too big of a workload.

Mandatory staffing ratios have been suggested as a way to meet nursing staffs’ concerns of high nurse to patient ratios. Mandatory staffing ratios are used as a way to reduce workload and patient mortality and are aimed at addressing the perceived imbalance between patient needs and nursing resources. (American Nursing Association, 2014). However, issues have been raised on applicability of staffing ratios since it could lead to increased costs without the guarantee of improvement in the quality of health care and could also lead to unintended consequences including unit closures, limited infrastructural development and limited access by patients (American Nursing Association, 2014).

The most challenging area Mrs. Dukes faces is staffing. For a well- developed health care system, sufficient, highly motivated and skillful employees are essential components (Saleem, 2015). It is important that we remember people are the most important and valuable asset of an organization. Every position is an important position and it takes skillful and effective people to fill those spots. “Staffing is the managerial function concerned with the procurement and maintenance of human resources” (Dunn, 2010). Having the right staff members is key in running an organization. If you hire individuals who are

It’s possible to distinguish higher levels of employment among female veterans than female non-veterans. In fact, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (2016) reports that around 34.2% of women

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a health care system that offers programs to benefit veterans and their families. Benefits include, but are not limited compensation payments for disabilities or death related to military service, pensions, education, health care and rehabilitation. The Department of Veteran Affairs functions as the nation’s largest integrated health care system, with more than 1,700 hospitals, clinics, community living centers, domiciliary, readjustment counseling centers, and other facilities. The mission of the VA is to “care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" by serving and honoring the men and women who are America 's veterans (The Department of Veteran Affairs, 2011). This mission statement is based off of President Lincoln 's promise to service members. For the addiction treatment program (ATP), which is part of the mental health division of the VA, their mission statement is to provide person centered and driven assessments, clinical programming, plan of care, treatment plan reviews, transition planning and outpatient and after service to promote the rehabilitation, recovery, health maintenance, quality of life and community integration goals identified by persons served (The Department of Veteran Affairs, 2011, p. 27).

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs overseas various Organizations that assist those who have served in the United States of America’s armed forces, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is one of them. Health care is a necessity that is not cheap for Americans. Most veterans qualify for this type of health care, which is a benefit well earned after serving their country. The process can be a lengthy and drawn out for several reasons. Healthcare after all is a business, and in every business organizations there are controversies. Often healthcare is associated with good ethical practices however, that is not always the case. For the past few months there has been a spotlight placed on the VHA, however, this is not the

There were over 4.7 million American soldiers that fought in World War I. 116,000 died in on the battlefield and another 204,000 were wounded. In 1914, Congress passed the War Risk Insurance Act to insure American ships and their cargoes before the U.S. entered the war.

In reviewing ten sources regarding the issue of veteran hiring preference in the private sector. Hiring preference will not only assist veterans in the transition back into civilian life but will also reflect societies desire to recognize service oriented sacrifices. Veterans also acquire traits that are beneficial in civilian labor such as being disciplined, responsible, and work in teams.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assistance to our veterans and their families can be traced back to the 1600’s and Plymouth County. A law was passed stating that disabled soldiers would be supported by the colony. The first domiciliary and medical facilities for veterans were established in the 1800’s, followed by benefits and programs for widows and dependents of those killed in action. After World War I benefits were expanded to cover disabilities that were not service-related and Soldier’s Homes were now accepting disabled veterans from the women’s corps, the Militia and the National Guard units. (vahistory, 2016).

The highest position in the Department of Veteran Affairs is the Secretary of Veteran Affairs. The President appoints the position with the advice and consent of the Senate. His responsibility is to oversee all benefits programs for Veterans and family members.

In the facility where Shirley was located, the facility had failed to meet its own staffing standards for 51 of 59 days, a staffing supervisor stated that administration had warned against the cost of augmenting the number of nurses scheduled, in addition, a staff nurse produced documents providing evidence that employees had shared their concerns that short staffing was having a deleterious effect on patient safety (Curtain, 2011). Given the preceding information, it is clear the hospital was not listening to the distress regarding staffing. There is substantial data illustrating that staffing has a direct impact on patient morbidity and mortality (Aiken, Clarke, Sloan, Sochalski, &

Researchers must ensure that they are able to read and understand all aspects of research prior to determining if it is creditable and reliable (Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2015). Staffing needs in hospitals have been the topic of research for several years now; however, staffing of inpatient psychiatric units is in its infancy. Predictive research has been done on psychiatric unit staff and it has determined that a staffing model is needed that is specific to inpatient psychiatric units. Predictive statists enables researchers to identify early signs that may predict a change is needed (Houser, 2015). Most available evidence on hospital staffing needs uses a medical model to staff psychiatric units, further research needs to be done to

As more nurses retired, the nursing industry is faced with a nursing shortage. This has brought facility staffing levels into light. The issue of appropriate staffing is being approached from many different angles. States have enacted laws to define safe nurse-to-patient ratios, the Institute of Medicine has encourage research on the topic of nurse staffing, the United States government has addressed legislation to ensure safe staffing levels, and facilities have developed staffing models that are currently being utilized. However, with all of the research and development of safe staffing model there continues to be no staffing model specific to mental health units. There are no staffing models that have been scientifically research or developed

Staffing deficits pose a direct threat of manifesting negative outcomes associated with the delivery of patient care. Anything or anyone that compromises patient care should be eradicated immediately. This author believes that staffing deficits remain a consistent issue due to lack of solutions that actively address the issue. This author believes that inadequate staffing is a major concern due to the degree of harm it can impose on patients. Adverse events associated with