Safe Staffing Through New Models of Care

Abstract

Safety is the number 1 priority for nurse leaders, and ensuring safe staffing is critical. Safe staffing in an era of nurse shortages must be achieved by a radical change to the current models of care. Clinical organizations must innovate by implementing and testing new models of care while partnering with their local academic colleagues to develop a new body of evidence. There is a need to educate all stakeholders, including legislators, that mandated nurse-to-patient ratios are not the best solution to ensure that patients have access to excellent care and that nurses are able to practice in a professionally fulfilling environment. Of paramount importance to planning a preferred future for both those who receive and deliver care will be the engagement of nurses, advanced practitioners, educators, and researchers. Leaders from both academia and practice must come together in a partnership to support true transformation.