Our health care system faces immense challenges. Cost-cutting measures, an aging population, increasing patient complexity, and a growing nursing workforce shortage all contribute to the current nurse staffing crisis—negatively impacting nurses’ mental health and well-being.
Research shows that appropriate nurse staffing improves patient outcomes and enhances satisfaction for both patients and nurses. Addressing nurse staffing challenges is essential to supporting our nurses, ensuring patient safety, and strengthening the overall health care system.
Minimum nurse-to-patient ratios are one of many potential solutions to achieving appropriate nurse staffing. The American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Missouri Nurses Association (MONA) support enforceable staffing standards as a key strategy to ensure safe and effective patient care.
Solving long-standing staffing challenges requires multiple approaches. When combined, these strategies improve the work environment and enable nurses to consistently provide high-quality care.
Appropriate nurse staffing is achievable, and MONA and ANA support all nurses in advocating for the staffing solutions that best fit their practice settings. Learn more about how MONA and ANA are working to improve nurse staffing and how you can get involved.
Joining the Missouri Nurses Association/American Nurses Association (ANA) is the best thing you can do for your career – and adds value to nursing as a whole. By uniting with the best nurses in Missouri, you’ll access development opportunities that you won’t find anywhere else and show pride in your profession.