Workplace Safety Policy for Nurses

It applies to all places of work and nursing places of work are not an exception. Lack of or inadequate safety in hospitals and other places where nurses work exposes them to risks and hazards and consequently puts their lives in danger (CHOI et al. Nurses are a very vital component in the health sector. Without them, it is almost impossible to guarantee a smooth-running, efficient health system. Their primary role is patient care, and this role would be compromised if nurses' lives or well-being is put at risk. A more significant problem would be a failed policy that either was wrongly established or implemented. This would mean that nurses will be put at greater risk. If nurses are at risk, then the patients are also at risk.

Take, for instance, a nurse taking care of a patient with multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis who accidentally gets infected because of poor safety. This nurse has very high chances of infecting other patients with the virulent mycobacteria because he or she handles many different patients. A policy on workplace safety for nurses would be strong if all the stakeholders are involved, and primarily the people affected directly, that is, the actual nurses. This is because they are the very people who know what problems they encounter in the workplace. They will be able to raise the issue and their grievances summarized into a working policy, that ensures most if not all of their claims are tackled (Dolansky et al. A policy addressing all the particular issues that were mentioned in the introductory part will enhance safety and ensure that nurses work with minimal fear as they care for the patients.

Factors related to the policy Social factors Socially, the policy on the safety of nurses at workplace touches on their role to the society as a whole. These include religious beliefs and taboos. For instance, some protective equipment may be taboo in some religions, and this puts some nurses at risk. Proper education and convincing against risky cultural practices can help in the implementation process of the policy. Culture can be a huge stumbling block in the implementation process and deal with it promptly and sensitively goes a long way to ensure a smooth implementation process. Legal-political factors The current government in power affects policy formulation and implementation in many ways. Availability of compelling stories from nurses on the injuries sustained at their workplace, like needle stick injuries and musculoskeletal injuries.

Public awareness of prominent and well-experienced nurses. Availability of data on the injuries and other hazards nurses go through. Availability of funds for policy formulation. Development of campaigns to address the issues nurses go through at workplace. Presence of sound legislation 6. Support from manufacturers Threats 1. Opposition to the costs to be incurred and financial burden 2. Expensive new technology that was safer hence hindering implementation. Increase in patient care costs. Crafting the Policy Agenda The plan is to come up with a policy for the safety of nursing staff at their workplace. Various stakeholders will be involved, right from the nurses on the ground to the political class at the top. Nurses will be asked questions on the issues that are pressing and that need to be addressed promptly about their safety at work.

The ones who have been victims will be given priority to state their experience and how everything happened. This will form a good basis for the draft. The more the facilitators, the higher the chances of the policy being passed in the form that is created initially. Advantages • The policy will ensure the safety of nurses in the workplace and reduce their chances of compromising their health and life. • There will be an increased awareness of how and why safety is paramount in health institutions. • New technology will be encouraged making patient care better (Mason et al. • Other patients will also be protected if nurses are well protected. The impact on the stakeholders will be positive or negative considering who it is.

Nurses will be safe and will enjoy the changes. The government will be allowed to budget more for the implementation of the policy. Policy recommendations The course of action would be to come up with this safety at the workplace for nurses' policy and ensure its formulation and implementation. The implications will be majorly financial on the authorities involved, and the outcomes for the nurses will be a safer working environment. C. Attributes of nursing work environment as predictors of registered nurses’ job satisfaction and intention to leave. Journal of Nursing Management, 21(3), 429-439. Christian, M. S. , & Moore, S. M. Quality and safety education for nurses (QSEN): The key is systems thinking. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 18(3), 71-80. Kirwan, M.