The development of organizational policies and practices plays a crucial role in addressing healthcare issues. Nurse leaders often face ethical dilemmas where they have to make choices between competing needs and limited resources. It is important for leaders to find a balance between the needs of the organization and the needs of ensuring quality, effective, and safe patient care. In this discussion, we will examine how competing needs can impact the development of policies to address national healthcare issues, and we will also explore specific examples of competing needs and their impacts.
Competing needs in healthcare organizations can arise from various sources, including the needs of the workforce, resources, and patients. Workforce needs may include factors such as nurse staffing levels, nurse-to-patient ratios, and nurse workload. Resources can encompass financial constraints, availability of equipment and supplies, and technological advancements. Patient needs are centered around providing high-quality and safe care.
When these competing needs are not adequately addressed, it can lead to negative consequences for both the organization and the patients. For example, if nurse staffing levels are insufficient, it can result in increased nurse workload, fatigue, and potential patient safety issues. Similarly, limited financial resources can restrict the organization’s ability to invest in new technologies or provide necessary training for staff, which can have implications for patient outcomes.
To address these competing needs, organizational policies and practices need to prioritize the allocation of resources and address workforce concerns. A comprehensive policy may involve implementing evidence-based staffing guidelines, which take into account patient acuity and nurse workload to ensure adequate staffing levels. Additionally, policies can focus on creating a culture of safety and well-being for the workforce, including initiatives for managing nurse fatigue and promoting work-life balance.
Let’s consider a specific national healthcare issue/stressor – the opioid epidemic. This issue involves competing needs at various levels. At the workforce level, there is a need for healthcare providers to effectively manage acute and chronic pain while minimizing the risk of opioid addiction. Resources, such as funding for addiction treatment programs and access to non-opioid pain management strategies, are needed to address this issue. Patients with chronic pain require effective pain management strategies, but there is also a need to prevent misuse and diversion of opioids.
To address these competing needs, policy interventions can include strategies such as implementing prescription drug monitoring programs to track and prevent opioid misuse. Policies can also promote interdisciplinary approaches to managing pain, incorporating non-opioid alternatives and providing education to both healthcare providers and patients about the risks and benefits of opioid use. Additionally, policies can focus on increasing access to addiction treatment programs and supporting harm reduction initiatives.
In summary, competing needs in healthcare organizations can have a significant impact on the development of policies to address national healthcare issues. Nurse leaders must consider the needs of the workforce, resources, and patients when formulating policies. By prioritizing the allocation of resources and addressing workforce concerns, organizations can strive for a balance between organizational needs and the delivery of quality, effective, and safe patient care. Specific examples, such as the opioid epidemic, demonstrate the complex nature of competing needs and the importance of tailored policy solutions to address these challenges.
