NURS FPX 8030 Assessment 4 Methods and Measurement

Name

Capella University

NURS-FPX 8030 Evidence-Based Practice Process for the Nursing Doctoral Learner

Prof. Name

Date

Methods and Measures

Impact of Staffing Ratios on Patient Outcomes

Staffing ratios are essential in influencing patient satisfaction and safety outcomes, which include issues such as increased falls, catheter-associated infections, and hospital-acquired pressure injuries (Granel et al., 2020). Insufficient staffing ratios can result in nursing staff neglecting vital patient care tasks due to time constraints. To remedy this situation, it is crucial to focus on improving the recruitment and retention of nursing staff. By enhancing nurse retention, hospitals can maintain staffing ratios at 1:6, thereby ensuring that nurses have sufficient time to meet all patient care responsibilities.

Instruments for Evaluating Recruitment and Retention Effectiveness

To evaluate the effectiveness of recruitment and retention strategies in improving staffing ratios, two tools can be utilized: Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Six Sigma. The RCA framework employs a technique of repeatedly asking “why” to analyze and assess staffing issues and potential practice changes. This qualitative approach can yield data linking staffing ratios below 1:6 with incidents of patient safety breaches, thereby underscoring the adverse impact of inadequate staffing on nurses’ productivity. Through continuous inquiry, RCA can uncover root causes that guide targeted interventions aimed at bolstering recruitment and retention efforts.

Six Sigma Approach to Staffing Issues

Although staffing issues significantly affect patient safety outcomes, they often go unmeasured. The Six Sigma methodology provides a structured approach through its five-step process: define, measure, analyze, improve, and control. This framework involves setting goals for process improvement, measuring existing staffing ratios, analyzing causal relationships, implementing improvement strategies, and maintaining control over outcomes. The Six Sigma approach emphasizes enhancing systems and processes rather than placing blame on individuals.

Relevance of Root Cause Analysis and Six Sigma in Healthcare

Root Cause Analysis, originally developed for manufacturing, promotes creative problem-solving and enhances analytical skills. Similarly, Six Sigma, which emerged in the 1980s, targets system-level enhancements. Both methodologies have been effectively applied in healthcare to tackle various challenges, including fall prevention, medication errors, and the ramifications of staffing ratios falling below the optimal level of 1:6.

Conclusion

Staffing ratios have a substantial impact on negative patient outcomes, making it essential to address the underlying causes of short staffing. Root Cause Analysis and Six Sigma serve as effective tools for identifying and resolving staffing-related challenges. This project focuses on improving nursing staff recruitment and retention to achieve a 1:6 staffing ratio, thus maximizing patient safety within a hospital environment. These methodologies are instrumental in measuring the effects of the proposed interventions.

References

Barnhart, T. (2011). Get to the root of the problem: root cause analysis (RCA) explained. Retrieved from http://www.aashtoresource.org/docs/default-source/newsletter/get-to-the-root-of-theproblem–root-cause-analysis-(rca)-explained—printer-friendly.pdf?sfvrsn=5

Granel, N., Manresa-Dominguez, J. M., Watson, C. E., Gomez-Ibanez, R., & Bernabeau-Tamayo, M. (2020). Nurses’ perceptions of patient safety culture: a mixed-methods study. BMC Health Services Research, 20, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05441-w

Kam, A. W., Collins, S., & Park, T. (2021). Using lean six sigma techniques to improve efficiency in outpatient ophthalmology clinics. BMC Health Services Research, 21, 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-06034-3

NURS FPX 8030 Assessment 4 Methods and Measurement

Tamata, A. T., Mohammadnezhad, M., & Tamani, L. (2021). Registered nurses’ perceptions on the factors affecting nursing shortage in the republic of Vanuatu hospitals: a qualitative study. PLOS ONE, 16(5). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251890