Fundamentals of Nursing Q 284
In a situation in which there is insufficient staff to implement competent care, a nurse should:
A. Organize a strike.
B. Inform the clients of the situation.
C. Refuse the assignment.
D. Accept the assignment but make a protest in writing to the administration.
Correct Answer: A. Organize a strike
Insufficient staffing ratios are causing tension in the nursing field across the United States, and hospital safety managers should prevent and prepare for picketing or strikes. Staffing is an issue that is becoming increasingly contentious in hospitals and healthcare facilities across the United States. In 2018, nurses in hospitals run HCA, one of the country’s largest healthcare providers, picketed and threatened to strike in five states, according to the New York Times.
Option B: Hospitals have a responsibility to supply patients with uninterrupted healthcare, even should a strike occur. Transparency is key during a nursing strike, so if changes in treatment are inevitable, this must be communicated to patients. Make sure that parents are informed of changes in staffing, whether this is care from nurses or doctors. Patients will appreciate the autonomy to make informed decisions amid staffing disruptions.
Option C: According to the American Nurses Association, Nurses have the “professional right to accept, reject or object in writing to any patient assignment that puts patients or themselves at serious risk for harm.
Option D: If a nursing union is calling for the health care system to hire more nurses amid staffing shortages, it is a signal to the administration that patient safety might be jeopardized. Walk-outs and strikes are often the last resort for nurses – they don’t want to disrupt patient care or hospital operations as much as hospital administrations don’t. These situations occur when communication does not occur.