Analysis Of The National Health Care Issue: The Shortage Of
Analysis Of The National Health Care Issuethe Shortage Of Nurses Is Al
Analysis of the national health care issue The shortage of nurses is always being a national health care issue but a globally issue as well. It impacts the quality of health care to the patients and it has also negative impacts on the satisfaction and motivation of patients and nurses. It has been estimated that it will reach about 12.9 million by 2035. Nowadays, there is a shortage of nurses of 7.2 million in the world (Marć, Bartosiewicz, Burzyńska, Chmiel, & Januszewicz, 2019). WHO (World Health Organization) states that if no solution is found for this problem, it will have severe implications on the health of lot of millions and even billions in the world.
This nurse shortage has limited the attainment of development goals that are health related. Also, if this problem won't get resolved, it will undermine the achievement of sustainable development goals (Marc et al., 2019). In my organization, nurse shortage is notably experienced. Nurses are working for long hours and there are few nurses for each shift. These working problems have led the nurses to stressors / burnouts. The nurses are getting mentally exhausted and they can't perform effectively on their duties. Also, they lack leadership support which is important to handle some specific tasks, for example, death processing. Deaths because of nurse ignorance have been observed frequently. Thus, shortage of nurses has led to performing unethically and exposing patients to increased risks.
Stakeholders in the healthcare sector are addressing this shortage differently. The foundation of Robert Wood Johnson is committed to improving healthcare among Americans, with the primary goal of lowering the nurse shortage bedside and enhancing the quality of care (Susan, Hassmiller, & Maureen, 2017). They recruit top-qualified staff and aim to retain them by supporting their development. Their strategies include training on technological advancements and response to patient deterioration, which enhances staff satisfaction and performance. They have launched leadership and mentorship programs for nurses in public health, executive roles, and nursing education, along with rapid response teams to intervene during patient deterioration.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) collaborates with policymakers, schools, media, and organizations to address the nurse shortage. They provide financial support to nursing students, establish partnerships to expand educational capacity, and promote nursing careers through multimedia campaigns, aiming to attract more students into the profession. These initiatives are designed to increase the qualified nursing workforce and improve healthcare delivery.
Paper For Above instruction
The nursing shortage remains a critical challenge facing healthcare systems worldwide, with profound implications for patient safety, healthcare quality, and the well-being of nursing staff. Addressing this complex issue requires a multifaceted approach that includes policy reforms, educational investments, and organizational strategies aimed at workforce sustainability.
Global and national scope of the nursing shortage
The World Health Organization (WHO) projects that the global deficit of nurses could reach approximately 12.9 million by 2035, a stark indicator of the severity of this issue (WHO, 2020). Currently, the shortage stands at around 7.2 million nurses globally, a figure that underscores the urgent need for comprehensive solutions. The shortages are attributable to various factors, including aging nursing populations, burnout, inadequate educational capacity, and inadequate workforce planning (Buchan, Duffield, & Jordan, 2015). This deficit impairs healthcare delivery by increasing workloads, leading to fatigue, errors, and compromised patient safety.
Impact on healthcare quality and workforce well-being
The shortage of nurses affects not only patient outcomes but also the morale and motivation of nursing staff. Increased workload and stress are linked with burnout, absenteeism, and high turnover rates among nurses (Van der Heijden, Schalk, & Van Engen, 2018). Burnout correlates with declines in professional performance, ethical breaches, and decreased patient satisfaction. The impact is compounded when nurses lack adequate leadership support, which is vital for effective task management, especially under critical conditions like patient death processing. Consequently, shortages can result in unethical practices and expose patients to increased risks, undermining the fundamental principles of healthcare.
Strategies to mitigate the nurse shortage
Various organizations are implementing initiatives to counteract the nursing shortage. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) focuses on recruitment, retention, and workforce development in the United States. Strategies include attracting top talent, improving working conditions, and fostering professional growth through leadership and mentorship programs (Hassmiller & Maureen, 2017). They also establish rapid response teams to promptly address patient deterioration, thereby reducing nurse stress and enhancing patient care quality.
The AACN underscores the importance of expanding educational capacity through partnerships with academic institutions and providing financial support to nursing students. Multimedia campaigns aim to change societal perceptions of nursing, thereby attracting more entrants into the profession (AACN, 2019). Both organizations recognize that improving retention, career development, and workplace environment is essential to sustain an adequate nursing workforce.
Organizational and policy-level interventions
At the organizational level, improving working conditions by reducing workload, offering supportive leadership, and fostering a positive work environment are critical. Evidence suggests that when nurses feel supported and satisfied, their commitment and performance improve, which in turn benefits patient outcomes (Aiken et al., 2014). Moreover, implementing continuous professional development enhances nurses' skills, increasing job satisfaction and quality of care.
Policy interventions are equally important. Governments need to invest in nursing education infrastructure, increase funding for nursing programs, and develop workforce planning models that anticipate future demands (World Health Organization, 2020). International collaboration and consistency in policies are essential, given the global nature of this shortage.
The future outlook and challenges
Despite concerted efforts, challenges persist. Funding constraints, educational capacity limits, and socio-cultural perceptions of nursing influence the success of these initiatives. Furthermore, technological advancements, while providing opportunities to improve efficiency, also require ongoing training and adaptation by the nursing workforce. Addressing the nursing shortage demands a sustained, collaborative approach involving healthcare providers, educational institutions, policymakers, and society at large.
Conclusion
The global nursing shortage significantly impairs healthcare delivery and patient safety, demanding urgent and strategic responses. Through comprehensive policy reforms, enhanced educational pathways, improved workplace conditions, and innovative workforce management, healthcare systems can begin to mitigate this crisis. Sustainable solutions necessitate the active participation of all stakeholders to ensure a resilient, skilled, and motivated nursing workforce capable of meeting future healthcare demands.
References
- Aiken, L. H., Sloane, D., Bruyneel, L., Van Den Heede, K., & Sermeus, W. (2014). Nurse staffing and education and hospital mortality in nine European countries: a retrospective observational study. The Lancet, 383(9931), 1824-1830.
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2019). Nursing Shortage. Retrieved from https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-information/fact-sheets/nursing-shortage
- Buchan, J., Duffield, C., & Jordan, A. (2015). 'Solving' nursing shortages: do we need a radically different approach? Journal of Clinical Nursing, 24(1-2), 4-12.
- Hassmiller, M., & Maureen, C. (2017). Addressing the Nurse Shortage to Improve the Quality of Patient Care. American Journal of Nursing, 117(4), 40-49.
- Marć, M., Bartosiewicz, A., Burzyńska, J., Chmiel, Z., & Januszewicz, P. (2019). A nursing shortage—a prospect of global and local policies. International Nursing Review, 66(1), 9-16.
- Snavely, T. M. (2016). A brief economic analysis of the looming nursing shortage in the United States. Nursing Economics, 34(2), 98-101.
- Van der Heijden, B. I., Schalk, R., & Van Engen, M. L. (2018). The effects of hospital work environments on nurses' burnout and job satisfaction. Journal of Nursing Management, 26(8), 981-991.
- World Health Organization. (2020). State of the world's nursing 2020: Investing in education, jobs and leadership. WHO Publications.