HEALTH CARE ETHICS

Health Care Ethics

Health Care Ethics

Identifying and maintaining the appropriate number and mix of nursing staff is critical to the delivery of quality patient care. Numerous studies reveal an association between higher levels of experienced RN staffing land lower rates of adverse patient outcomes.

42 Code of Federal Regulations (42CFR 482.23(b) requires hospitals certified to participate in Medicare to "have adequate numbers of licensed registered nurses, licensed practical (vocational) nurses, and other personnel to provide nursing care to all patients as needed". With such nebulous language and the continued failure of Congress to enact a quality nursing care staffing act ...