Strategizing and Creating Change – Peer Comment
The American Nurses Association’s (ANA) nurse leaders have implemented a policy approach called the “Safe Staffing Saves Lives” campaign. The campaign intends to enact legislation improving hospital staff numbers standards (McHugh et al., 2021).
The American Nurses Association has acknowledged that understaffing in healthcare facilities can hurt patient outcomes and nurses’ professional fulfillment. As a result, they began a grass-roots movement to promote laws that would set requirements for the ratio of nurses to patients in healthcare facilities.
In order to develop and implement its policy agenda, the ANA utilized several methods. They surveyed nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals nationwide and studied how staffing levels affected patient outcomes. Communication strategies were developed, and they formed strategic alliances with other healthcare groups to increase the number of people who would be aware of and willing to support the initiative.
The “Safe Staffing Saves Lives” initiative has yielded significant results. The American Nurses Association has passed laws in several states, including California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, that set minimum nurse-to-patient ratios. Patient outcomes have improved, nurses are happier in their jobs, and burnout has decreased thanks to these laws. The ANA still pushes for federal and state legislation .
The ANA’s “Safe Staffing Saves Lives” campaign illustrates how nurse leaders can use legislative proposals to enhance patient care and promote registered nurses.
