CNOs need to communicate with nurses to show their commitment to safe staffing.
Few debates in healthcare are as explosive, or as personal, as nurse staffing ratios. For many bedside nurses, mandated ratios sound like salvation: fewer patients, safer care, and less burnout. But for chief nursing officers, the reality is far more complicated.
Regardless of philosophy or the presence of mandated ratios, it's critical that CNOs communicate with their workforces to make sure the nurses know that safe staffing is a value and a priority for leadership.
Here are three pieces of advice for tackling staffing ratios, according to Rudy Jackson, CNE at UW Health, Betty Jo Rocchio, EVP and CNE at Advocate Health, and Vicky Tilton, VP of patient care services and CNO at Valley Children's Healthcare.
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G Hatfield is the CNO editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
CNOs should also arm themselves with data and know when higher volumes of patients might be coming into their health systems, and using that information to be proactive and staff accordingly.
Nurse leaders need to be engaged and lead the work with our professional governance councils.