Thankfully, ANA our professional practice advocate has made staffing a top priority, and devoted many resources to addressing the need for appropriate staffing. Beginning in 1994, ANA created a research structure to objectify the relationship between care provided by the registered nurse and patient outcomes. In addition to advising these agencies, ANA is lobbying at the state and federal levels to address the issue of staffing sufficiency. For those of us in management, it is vital to listen and respond to the concerns of our nurses. Most importantly, we need to continually remind ourselves nursing is the amazing and uniquely wonderful profession that it is.
Nursing IS both a science and an art.
In order to be successful in this profession, appropriate nurse staffing is key, but so is our individual role as a nurse. Remember that if we picture the person that we love the most in the patient bed, we will always do the right thing. To be successful, is to be helpful, caring, and constructive, to make everything and everyone you touch a little bit better. The best thing you have is to give of yourself. Published January 2001.