Nurse Staffing
Our health care system faces immense challenges. Staff shortages brought about by cost-cutting decisions, an aging population, increased patient complexity and need, and an aging workforce places stress on working conditions for nurses and affects patient care and overall outcomes. An increasing body of evidence shows appropriate nurse staffing contributes to improved patient outcomes and greater satisfaction for both patients and staff. However, the need remains for appropriate staffing in all health care settings. For more than two decades, ANA has continued working to address unsafe nurse staffing levels to improve working conditions for nurses and achieve optimal patient outcomes.
Safe nurse staffing is essential to both the nursing profession and to the overall health care system. Staffing affects the ability of all nurses to deliver safe, quality care in all practice settings. By eliminating unsafe nurse staffing practices and policies, we can provide better health care for all.
The American Nurses Association is committed to providing the best in evidence-based policy, practice, products, advocacy and professional development to ensure safe staffing and transform health and health care delivery.
Read on to find out more about how ANA is working to improve nurse staffing and how you can get involved.
In This Section
Nurse Staffing Task Force
Nursing Staffing Requirements to Meet the Demands of Today’s Long Term Care Consumer
Recommendations from the Coalition of Geriatric Nursing Organizations (CGNO)
CGNO Position Statement Endorsed by ANA: November 12, 2014
Principles for Nurse Staffing, 3rd Edition
The 2019 ANA Principles for Nurse Staffing identify the major elements needed to achieve optimal staffing, which enhances the delivery of safe, quality care. These principles and the supporting material in this publication will guide nurses and other decision-makers in identifying and developing the processes and policies needed to improve nurse staffing at every practice level and in any practice setting.
Legislation & Regulation
Identifying and maintaining the appropriate nurse staff numbers and mix is critical to the delivery of quality patient care. Numerous studies reveal an association between higher levels of experienced RN staffing and lower rates of adverse patient outcomes.
When health care employers fail to recognize the association between RN staffing and patient outcomes, laws and regulations become necessary.
In the News
Nurses gather to address key issues, strengthen the profession at ANA Membership Assembly
In his opening remarks, ANA President Ernest Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN, the first man elected to hold the office, spoke of the important work that takes place when nurses gather at ANA’s Membership Assembly to collaboratively address relevant issues, advance the profession and strengthen ANA.
Nurses and other stakeholders head to the Hill to advocate
As part of ANA’s annual Hill Day, nurses, students and other leaders are meeting today with members of Congress and their staff to build support for federal legislation addressing workplace violence, funding for nurse workforce development programs, and APRNs’ ability to order home health care services.
ANA Responds to Defeat Of Massachusetts Ballot Initiative on Nurse Staffing
Calls for constructive dialogue between all stakeholders.
American Nurses Association Launches Enhanced Career Center Powered by YourMembership
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is pleased to announce the launch of an enhanced version of the ANA Career Center. The newly redesigned site is powered by YourMembership — the leading provider of career center and job board services.
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