501 D8: How the Consensus Model Improved Practice Parameters and Patient Safety

How the Consensus Model Improved Practice Parameters and Patient Safety
Name
Institution
Date
How the consensus model improved practice parameters and patient safety
California is the first state to implement one of the components of the consensus model that included appropriate nurse to patient staffing ratios in acute care hospitals. The consensus model aimed at ensuring uniform regulations that would improve advance-nursing practice (Rounds, Zych, & Mallary, 2013). Having a uniform regulation would increase patient access to care to eliminate barriers that limited APRNs from practicing within certain jurisdictions (Rounds, Zych, & Mallary, 2013). Other states like the District of Columbia have enacted the nurse staffing legislation; however, the district of Colombia is yet to set ratios like California (Kennedy-Malone, Baker & Duffy, 2016).
Since enacting the legislation, nurse’s workload has decreased, improved recruitment and nurse retention process has had a favorable impact on quality of care (Kennedy-Malone, Baker & Duffy, 2016). Simple health care processes like flu shots, blood pressure checkups are readily available within the retail clinics. Hospitals are reserved for more serious conditions (Kennedy-Malone, Baker & Duffy, 2016). The implementation of consensus model in The District of Colombia has greatly influenced how health care services are allocated, which is more efficient, thereby relieving some of the pressure on the hospital (Allen, 2013).
The District of Columbia has the worst health outcomes, with shorter life expectancy. The adoption of consensus model has improved patient access to the kind of care that provides them with superior outcomes (Allen, 2013). The consensus model has increased the mobility of APRNs allowing them to move to another state without having to meet the different licensure requirement. As a result, The District Colombia has witnessed low mortality rates due to adequate staffing (Allen, 2013). It is evident that appropriate nurse staffing is critical to patient safety and well-being. The new model has improved practice parameters and patient safety with many states recording positive healthcare outcome.
References
Allen, D. (2013). Evidence shows staff ratios can work: There are mandatory staffing ratios in other countries, says Daniel Allen. So why not here?. Nursing Standard, 27(43), 20-22.
Kennedy-Malone, L., Baker, N. R., & Duffy, E. G. (2016). Moving toward consensus: GAPNA's role in implementation of the consensus model for APRN regulation. Geriatric Nursing, 37(2), 156-158...