Danielle9515

I absolutely agree that nurses should have staffing ratio laws! I am in school for my BSN and recently did an assignment about this topic. Unfortunately, hospital administrators are going to try and stop any legislation change that will cost them more money, even if it is at the cost of the patients. Healthcare systems are being pushed more than ever to be efficient with their spending- which they do by cutting staffing. I think it is senseless for nurses to work with high patient loads. The research that supports low nurse to patient ratios has been around since 1990s! In 1999 it was found between 168 hospitals in Pennsylvania, investigators reported that for each additional patient a nurse was assigned, there was a seven percent increase in the likelihood of dying for a patient under that nurse's care” (f/ Nursing World). I don't see how mandated staffing ratios could be in the near future for areas that are more conservative like Ohio. I think it is great that California and New York have passed laws. Hopefully, in the years to come more research will be published that shows how safe nurse ratios help patients and hospitals! Realistically, one step towards safe ratios would be if hospitals had to report their staffing ratios as one of their public statistics. Right now, "hospitals aren't required to disclose staffing ratios at all, which makes it difficult to track whether they're improving or to compare one hospital with another. If nurse-to-patient ratios became one of the public metrics that go into rankings and evaluations" (Washington Post). The statistics could also be used to prove that hospitals with horrible nurse-to-patient ratios have poorer patient outcomes and cost hospitals more money in the long run. Washington Post: More nurses are better for patients. Why is it so hard to get hospitals to hire them? - The Washington Post Nursing World: Mandatory Hospital Nurse to Patient Staffing Ratios: Time to Take a Different Approach

Elizabeth, I am also new to allnurses. I think people who have anxiety can be great nurses, but just like all things involving anxiety, it makes things a little more complicated. I actually got diagnosed with anxiety while I was going through nursing school and truly learned what ambiguous "anxiety" was for the first time. But, I have been able to work through it! I found that it took a lot of trial and error (and learning experiences) to find ways for me to not become overwhelmed and panicked with school and work. I had to be on medication during nursing school and in the beginning of my career but now only as needed. I am still anxious before every shift (especially the first four hours of my shift). When I was orienting, I was having a difficult time with time-management and not being overwhelmed with one of my main preceptor until I got paired (last minute) with another nurse who also had anxiety and it was the best thing that could have happened to me as a new grad. She was just able to explain to me what she does and how she handles certain situations and it helped immensely. You seem to be very open and willing to work through your anxiety so I have no doubt that you will be able to go through nursing school and your career! That being said, it will be difficult and your anxiety will probably get worse in the beginning but you will be able to work through it as you learn and gain experience. You should do what makes you happy! I wish you the best!