Deception Pass Bridge connects Whidbey Island to Pass Island, and Pass Island to Fidalgo Island. It was discovered during the Vancouver Expedition where George Vancouver gave the name “Deception” because it appeared to be a narrow bay instead of a strait. (1)
Just as the explorers were deceived by the appearance of Deception Pass, patients and family members entering hospitals may experience the same. In this economic environment, both nonprofit and for-profit, hospitals are cutting nurses and ancillary staff while demanding increased productivity of the remaining staff. Nurses are caring for patients with higher acuity (sick) levels while also being told they must care for more patients. In turn, the nurse- to- patient ratio increases, thus putting the patient’s safety, well-being, and health at risk.
Due to the law of diminishing returns, nurses will be unable to sustain the heavy patient load and demands placed on them for much longer. Hospitals using this type of staffing philosophy will inevitably incur sentinel or near sentinel (death, serious physical or psychological injury, etc.) events. As nurses continue to work in this type of environment, errors will eventually occur due to fatigue and stress. Over time, this will have a direct impact on the quality of patient care and safety.
Both patient and family members may be deceived by the illusion of advertisements and the architecture of hospitals just as Deception Past had deceived the explorers.
References: 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deception_Pass#cite_ref-3
