Effect of Informed Decision Making on Quality of Care in Nursing

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT 1
Nursing Assignment
Student’s Name
Institution

NURSING ASSIGNMENT 2
Nursing Assignment
Background of the Study
Nursing shortage is one of the most prevalent nursing issues across the globe. This
problem arises from the fact that the number of nurses continues to decrease while the number of
patients continues to increase (Duffield & O’Brien, 2013). The reasons for such shortages are
said to be multifaceted mostly arising from structural organization issues that hamper their
ability to hire nurses. Furthermore, the number of nurses enrolled in nursing institutions also
continues to decrease with many young people opting for other career options (Kaur & Gujral,
2017). This situation is further exacerbated that the nursing workforce is aging at an alarming
rate. Ultimately, the reduced number of graduating nurses coupled with an aging workforce
creates a nursing shortage (Griffiths et al., 2018).
With increased shortages, the ratio of nurse to patients subsequently continues to
decrease. This implies that the limited number of staff forced to cater for a large patient
population. The consequences of this problem lead to the objective of this study (Duffield &
O’Brien, 2013). In this case, nurses become fatigued since they provide care to a large number of
patients than they can be able to manage. Alternatively, it can be affirmed that the staff shortages
results in nurse burnouts and long working hours. Such effects in turn affects that the quality of
care provided for patients. Nursing errors and decreased quality of care are some of the impacts
on the provision of service. Also, patient safety becomes compromised as a result (Fagerström,
Kinnunen & Saarela, 2018). Thus, whereas the nurses’ physical and emotional well-being
become significantly affected due to nursing shortages, the patients are likewise put at risk since
they receive poor quality of care and their safety also becomes a concern. This study therefore

NURSING ASSIGNMENT 3
seeks to review this nursing problem and also address other adverse effects associated with
staffing shortage. The study project proposes an evidence-based practice comprising of informed
decision making among nurses to help the available nurses to cope with burnouts, long working
hours and enhance the quality of care provided.
According to Griffiths et al., (2018) provision of quality healthcare and enhancing patient
safety requires adequate staffing levels that will in essence increase nurse-patient ratios.
However, according to a similar research conducted by Gaffney, et al., (2016), the creation of a
safer working environment goes beyond maintaining appropriate staffing levels. Instead, it will
require the available nurses to fully utilize their education, training and expertise in identifying,
interrupting and correcting medical errors. Such interventions will prevent harm to patients even
in highly strenuous working environments.
Purpose of the study
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of informed decision making on
the quality of care in multiple clinical settings. This study also seeks to understand the
relationship between this evidence-based practice and the issue of nursing shortages.
PICOT question
The following PICOT question was developed; what is the efficacy of using training
and better patient-nurse relationships on the quality of care compared to adequate staffing
in multiple clinical settings?
Critical Analysis of Each Study
Training

NURSING ASSIGNMENT 4
The maintenance of patient safety requires nurses’ training in a bid to enhance the
nurses’ knowledge and skills. Bryant et al., (2016) proposes that nurse training should be
conducted by dividing trainees into two groups namely; project group and control group.
According to Friesen-storms et al., (2015), the division should further be dictated by age,
field of study, experience and specified time periods. After a critical observation of the two
groups taking place during the training process and after the training is completed, it can
be noted that; nurses who are less experienced are less confident. Confidence can however
be enhanced through a comprehensive internship program. Through such a program, the
new nurses are subjected to nursing environment where they get the chance to handle
patients and utilize other nursing instruments (Heckemann et al., 2015).
In the control group however, mentors are less involved with the nursing students
left to manage themselves on their own without any interventions. Based on the findings
and contributory research conducted by Herrmann, Woermann & Schlegel (2015), it can
be affirmed that the project group are more effective in comparison to the control group.
The project group involved in the mentorship program exhibit better confidence and skill
levels compared to their counterparts. Furthermore, training in a clinical practice setting
with proper guidance enables nurses to enhance their experience thereby being fully
capable to address the patients’ needs in such a way that improves the quality of care.
Additionally, with enhanced skills in managing medical equipment, nurses undergoing
training become capable of maintaining patient safety (Jacobsen et al., 2018).
It can as well be noted that the enhanced efficacy through training will in turn
enable nurses to manage workloads and burnouts created by nursing shortages. The notion
behind this is that well-trained workers can be able to handle patients on a timely basis