Understaffing in hospitals has been a topic of much discussion in recent years, particularly when it comes to nursing. Nurses are the backbone of any medical facility, and without enough, patient care is sacrificed.
Outlined below are some key points that emphasize the importance of proper staffing levels and the dangers of being understaffed.
Why staffing levels are important
Nurses carry out a broad range of services for patients. They monitor vital signs and constantly assess the overall welfare of patients. This takes time, and there are only so many things that one nurse can do.
Understaffing means that nurses may struggle to juggle tasks, resulting in compromised patient care. This means delayed diagnoses, medication errors and much more. Hospitals with higher nurse-to-patient ratios have lower mortality rates and fewer complications.
The effects of understaffing
Understaffed medical facilities will eventually burn out their team members. Nurses can’t respond quickly or make good decisions when they are extremely fatigued. They are much more likely to miss symptoms. Ultimately, this can result in life-threatening conditions for patients.
There have been several campaigns calling for increased staff-to-patient ratios and stricter staffing regulations in nursing. Proper support for nurses has also been called for to reduce burnout and fatigue. Unfortunately, these campaigns have only resulted in some improvements, and many medical facilities are still understaffed.
If you have been harmed because of understaffing in a medical facility, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Determining whether or not negligence was a factor can be tricky. That’s why it’s so important to seek legal guidance.
