Question

A busy medical unit has been increasing the use of agency nurses. The nurse-manager should anticipate what consequence of this staffing alternative?

1) Increased reliance on unlicensed assistive personnel by nurses
2) Decreased continuity of nursing care
3) Short-term cost savings
4) A need for 8-hour rather than 12-hour shifts

Answer 1

The increased use of agency nurses often results in decreased continuity of nursing care, which might impact patient-nurse relationships and care quality. Government regulations requiring that certain procedures be performed only by nurses would also affect this outcome.

Step-by-step explanation:

The use of agency nurses in a busy medical unit typically leads to a consequence like decreased continuity of nursing care. This happens because agency nurses may not be consistently assigned to the same patients or shifts, which can interrupt patient-nurse relationships and the overall continuity of care. Additionally, agency nurses, being temporary staff, may not always be fully integrated into the team or up-to-date with the specific procedures and protocols of the unit. While there could be short-term cost savings, the long-term impact on quality of care and patient outcomes should be considered. Furthermore, government regulations may require that certain medical procedures can only be carried out by qualified nurses, thus reducing the use of less-trained healthcare workers and leading to an increased demand for professional nurses.