June 25, 2024- When it comes to the safety of nurses and the patients they care for in hospitals and health systems, there are no silos. Everything is tied together, which means today’s providers need a holistic approach across all departments and staff, including the supply chain, said Emily Champlin, associate director, Regulatory Advocacy at ANA.
For instance, staffing is directly related to workplace violence, one of the top focus areas for the ANA. Less staff on the floor means less backup and less eyes watching for certain behaviors from patients and visitors. Fewer staff also increases the likelihood of burnout and fatigue.
“There’s a lot of injury in patient handling, needle sticks, and workplace violence that happens if you have inadequate staffing levels,” Champlin said. “It’s all tied back to having a holistic perspective of nurse safety in the workplace.”
The Journal of Healthcare Contracting reached out to national organizations, health system nursing leaders, and leading supply chain executives, to get their insights on a critical topic for today’s healthcare providers. The following are their stories.
Read More in the latest issue of JHC.