A client asks the nurse about the quality improvement program in the hospital because of news articles about the need to contain costs in health care. The client asks how a quality improvement program can contain cost of care
The best response by the nurse is: 1. "High RN-to-client ratios result in decreased length of stay.".
2. "Medication errors decrease the cost of care.".
3. "Promoting safety increases the cost of care.".
4. "Use of computers increases the number of law suits.".
1. "High RN-to-client ratios result in decreased length of stay.".
Rationale:
Studies have shown that increasing the RN-to-client ratio can decrease overall cost because the length of stay is reduced with RN care as well as mortality rates. Medication errors increase cost due to harm to the client and increased length of stay. Promoting safety is a cost-containment measure because it decreases injury to the client and the consequent risk of lawsuits. Computers increase efficiency and reduce cost as a result. Lawsuits do not increase because of computer use; they increase when computers are used improperly.
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