Ease the Way - Gebauer Patient Comfort Blog

Ensuring Safe Nurse-to-Patient Ratios: What You Can Do

By: Bethany Nock | On: December 1, 2016

Hospital management teams are always on the lookout for methods to trim costs and improve efficiency. Since nurses account for a large percentage of the hospital staff, a frequently used strategy to decrease costs is to reduce the number of nurse labor hours. However, considering the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has placed greater emphasis on value-based care, the appropriate nurse-to-patient ratio is essential to guarantee patients receive the highest quality care.

Traditional nurse staffing systems fail to account for certain variables, resulting in staff shortages and an inability for nurses to spend adequate time caring for their patients. Newer staffing models are more flexible and can be adjusted to fit not only the needs of the entire hospital but also the needs of individual units.

Here are four approaches hospitals can take to ensure safe nurse-to-patient ratios.

3 Reasons to Consider a Bachelor of Science in Nursing

By: Bethany Nock | On: November 29, 2016

Today, nurses are required to have, at minimum, an associate degree in nursing (ADN) to administer care. While every nurse has certainly received the clinical training required to provide quality care, having a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) usually leads to increased opportunities for personal and professional development.

Although there’s no doubt taking classes in addition to working full time will make life a little more chaotic, nurses who are interested in continuing their education should reflect on the advantages the degree can have for their patients, their hospital and themselves.

Here are three reasons why you should consider pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

How Nurses Can Improve Interprofessional Collaboration

By: Bethany Nock | On: October 6, 2016

Providing the best hospital experience for patients requires coordination and communication between all providers involved in a patient’s care. This cooperative approach is referred to as interprofessional collaboration, and its goal is to help doctors and nurses work together to administer the highest quality care. Interprofessional collaboration fosters trust and respect between all healthcare providers and encourages the practice of treating nurses as equals with physicians.

In this post, we’ll discuss how nurses can collaborate across disciplines to ensure each healthcare professional’s expertise and experience are applied in the most effective way possible.

The 5 Qualities All Outstanding Nurse Leaders Possess

By: Bethany Nock | On: September 1, 2016

It takes remarkable resolve to become a nurse and extraordinary determination to become a nurse leader. Taking the next step and transforming into a superior nurse leader requires an impressive level of commitment.

Great nurse leaders are experts in multiple areas: people management, administration and, of course, patient care. What makes a truly exceptional nurse leader? Here are five qualities all outstanding nurse leaders have.

Do You Know These 7 Secrets to Patient-Centered Care?

By: Bethany Nock | On: August 30, 2016

We’re likely all familiar with the saying, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” One of the reasons a nurse is promoted to the position of nurse leader is because he or she knows how to strengthen each link in the chain and help every member of his or her team reach their full potential. When a team is running at full capacity and has the support of the nurse leader, they can focus on administering the best quality care to their patients.

View the SlideShare below to learn seven ways nurse leaders can empower their team to provide patient-centered care.