In Your Week 8 Discussion, You Considered Policy Issues
In Your Week 8 Discussion You Considered Policy Issues Affecting Nurs
In your Week 8 Discussion, you considered policy issues affecting nurses on a national scale. However, what about on a global scale? What issues are affecting healthcare on a global level? What initiatives are addressing these issues and/or impacting the field of nursing? While it can be easy to focus specifically on our own practice and organization, healthcare is a global practice.
And considering the impact of global initiatives, policy issues affecting nurses on a global scale can help us to better understand, remedy, connect, and even prepare for current or potential national issues. For this Assignment, you will identify a global initiative impacting the nursing profession. You will defend, with evidence, your selection and discuss the impact. Submit a 2-page paper that describes a global initiative that impacts the nursing profession. Defend, with evidence, why this particular initiative has the most impact and/or importance on the nursing profession.
Paper For Above instruction
The global nursing profession faces numerous challenges and opportunities that are shaping the future of healthcare worldwide. Among these, the issue of the global nursing shortage stands out as one of the most significant initiatives impacting nurses globally. This shortage has far-reaching implications, affecting patient outcomes, healthcare delivery, and policy development across nations. This paper discusses the global nursing shortage initiative, its importance, and its impact on the nursing field.
The global nursing shortage refers to the inadequate supply of qualified nurses to meet the healthcare demands of populations worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a shortage of over 5 million nurses and midwives exists globally, with low- and middle-income countries bearing the brunt of this deficit (WHO, 2020). This shortage stems from multiple factors, including aging nursing populations, limited educational opportunities, migration of nurses from low-income to high-income countries, and insufficient nursing workforce planning (Buchan et al., 2015). The implications of this shortage are profound, leading to increased burnout among existing nurses, decreased quality of care, longer wait times, and higher patient mortality rates (Rampal, 2017).
The importance of addressing the global nursing shortage cannot be overstated. As the backbone of healthcare systems, nurses are critical in providing essential services such as patient care, health education, and disease prevention. The shortage limits access to quality healthcare, especially in underserved and rural areas, amplifying health disparities worldwide (WHO, 2020). Recognizing this, numerous international initiatives aim to mitigate this challenge. A prominent example is the Priority Action Area 3 of the Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health, which emphasizes strengthening nursing and midwifery workforce capacity through education, recruitment, retention, and professional development (WHO, 2016).
The World Health Organization has also launched efforts such as the State of the World's Nursing report, which highlights the need for increased investment in nursing education, improved working conditions, and expanded career pathways to attract and retain nurses globally (WHO, 2020). Similarly, partnerships like the Nursing Now campaign, a three-year global initiative launched in 2018, actively promote nursing leadership and workforce development, aiming to elevate the profession's profile and meet global health needs (Nursing Now, 2018). These initiatives have catalyzed policy changes, increased funding for nursing education, and fostered international collaboration.
Addressing the global nursing shortage holds significant importance for the evolution of nursing practice. A well-supported nursing workforce enhances healthcare quality, reduces errors, and improves patient outcomes. It also ensures that nurses can adapt to emerging global health threats such as pandemics, chronic diseases, and aging populations. Moreover, investing in nursing education and workforce development aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all (United Nations, 2015).
In conclusion, the global nursing shortage is a pressing policy issue with extensive implications for healthcare worldwide. International initiatives like the WHO's strategies and the Nursing Now campaign are pivotal in addressing this challenge by promoting workforce development, policy advocacy, and international collaboration. Prioritizing this issue not only advances the nursing profession but also ensures equitable access to quality healthcare on a global scale. Strengthening nursing capacity is essential to achieving health equity and sustainable health systems worldwide.
References
- Buchan, J., Duffield, C., & O’Meara, P. (2015). Lessons from international nurse migration.
Human Resources for Health, 13(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-015-0003-8
- Nursing Now. (2018). About the nursing now campaign. https://www.nursingnow.org/about-us/
- Rampal, S. (2017). Nurse to patient ratios: Impact on quality of care. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 77, 110-117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2017.02.011
- United Nations. (2015). Sustainable Development Goals. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal3
- World Health Organization. (2016). Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030. https://www.who.int/hrh/resources/2016_global_strategy/en/
- World Health Organization. (2020). State of the World's Nursing 2020: Investing in Education, Jobs and Leadership. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240003279