Nursing Shortage - Research Paper Example

Nursing shortage Introduction It is through the functions of a nurse that we understand the profession of nursing. The role of a nurse is to aid an individual who is sick and unwell to undertake those activities that assist in health recovery. The activities that a nurse assists patient to undertake are those activities that that person would perform by himself or herself if they had the necessary strength and knowledge. The nurse assists the patient in a way that the patient gains independence as quick as possible. The nurse initiates and controls this function as the master ((May et al., 2006). The nurse also helps a patient in the carrying out of the therapeutic activities instructed by the physician. The nurse works as a part of a team with others. Together they help in running the program for recovery and improvement to health. They as support those who are dying to appreciate the transition and attain peace of mind. These roles bring out the crucial aspects in nursing. Further, they show the relationship that exists between a nurse and a patient (Feldman, 2011). The nurse and the system of nursing exist within regulated structures. This is essential because of the support that has in terms of resource allocation and credibility. Nursing operates within the health care system, which is changing rapidly. Thus, the stability of nursing depends on proper organization delivering of care, regulated practice for quality assurance and adequate preparation of the nursing profession. This outline is to give a peek into the gap left when we suffer a shortage in the nursing profession (Rosseter, 2012). Current and Projected Shortage in Nursing In May, the year 2011, the recruitment agencies and employers posted over 121,000 ads for nursing positions (Stiger et al, 2009). This was a 46% increase in the demand of the nurse from the previous year 2010. In March, this year (2012), Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 20% of the total job vacancies were from the healthcare institutions. This clearly shows the trend that employment vacancies are taking. The need for more professional registered nurse is rising every day (Feldman, 2011). In addition, annual rate of turnover of registered nurses is at 14% as per the report by KPMG survey 2012. Professional nursing as an occupation shows the highest tendency of growth. Projects show that the number of employed nurse will increase from 2.8 million to 3.5 million by the year 2020. This growth will partly be contributed by the retirement of about 0.5 million nurses. The shortage of nurses is going to persist in unless we find a lasting solution (Stiger et al, 2009). Effects of understaffing on patients To do that, we have to understand better what it means to have a shortage of nursing staff we look at the consequences to a patient. This is critical because either we get to feel the effects as the patients or a friend and relatives to the patient. Thus, the addressing the situation is paramount. When the number of nurses is few people who die in the health facilities increases compared to when the nurse are many (Rosseter, 2012). When the ratio of the nurse to that of the patients in a given facility is small, service provision becomes poor. This is because the workload of the nurses becomes impossibly large and overwhelms them. Infection rates among patients’ increases, serving of patients becomes slow necessitating the need for them to overstay in the hospital (Stiger et al, 2009). This is uneconomical because it leads to wastage of the work force energy of those who are seeking the attention of the nurses. Moreover, it causes overcrowding in the health facilities. When the nurses are few, there is an increased rate of failure to attend the emergency case leading to preventable deaths. The shortage of nursing staff is negatively affecting the care taken on a patient compromising on the quality (Stiger et al, 2009). The time for taking care of patients’ safety becomes scarce, and complications sometime go undetected. The high workload and stress compounding on the problem of nurses shortage also affect the nurses’ health. Causes of Nursing Shortage There are few people enrolling to study nursing compared to the market demand for the nurses. There physical facilities are inadequate to cater for an increased intake level into the nursing courses. The institutions offering the courses have budget constraints that limit the admission of all qualified students. There is also a shortage of educators to train the nurse making it difficult for the education institution to increase their output of nurses. The number of nurse completing their training is less than the number of nurses required in the field (Feldman, 2011). The general population is growing; this calls for the need for expansion in the provision of health services. The implementation of bill on affordable health care and protection of the patient that passed in 2010 will cause a surge in demand of nurses. This health care bill reduces the number of people insured. Therefore, more people are able to access health service provided by the nurses. This will further reduce the patient to nurse ratio in the health facilities (Feldman, 2011). The already strained and overloaded nurses will have to put up with the new changes. There is a restriction in the work visas. This means that foreigners cannot to fill the vacancies open. It is impossible to outsource labor when such a limiting policy is in place (Suzanne, 2005). The healthcare administration contends with the shortage for lack of alternatives. Further, the age of most nurses on average is 44 years, meaning that many of the current nurses are retiring or about to retire. This means that the shortage we are experiencing will continue to persist (Rosseter, 2012). The demographic of the nation is changing. We have more and more people living up to old age because of technological advancement. This group is exiting from the active section of the population to that which requires individual care provided by the nursing profession. The baby boomers are also retiring, leaving a gap that needs filling. This does nothing to assist the sector largely affected by high labor turnover. The demand for of healthcare services continues to increase. The shortage is attributable to delay in the licensing of the nurses. It takes about three to four years of study for one to acquire a license. This sometimes discourages the persons undertaking the course and can lead to attrition. Poor conditions of working are making being in the nursing profession undesirable. Given the high workload that the nurses have to undertake they end up emotionally exhausted. This leads to low levels of job satisfaction. The lacking quality in their work life, this makes them work half-heartedly (Rosseter, 2012). They, therefore, do not give a positive image of the profession to attract more people to join. The working conditions of the healthcare facility employees should be such that they attract people to work there. There value placed on the nurse and appreciation of them should be a motivation, in addition, to decent wages (Suzanne, 2005). Pros and cons The cons of nursing shortage are evident in health institutions where nurses subject themselves to unfavorable conditions of work. The condition of nursing shortage results to mental and physical strains by nurses due to their involvement in workloads which are difficult to handle. A single nurse may have a responsibility of caring for several patients leading to high levels of stress. High stress levels results to lack of job contentment by nurses who then leave their careers. The pros are evident where the government is making laws to enhance reduction of nursing shortage in health institutions. Legislation exists whose intention is to aid various facets present in the nursing field by providing funds to schools of nursing. The nursing experts and institutions are utilizing the experience of nursing shortage in laying succinct strategies for solving the problem (May et al., 2006). Stakeholders Stakeholders of nursing shortage involve all the people and institutions affected by the situation For example, nursing schools, system for health care, profession of nursing and the government (May et al., 2006). Nursing schools are responsible for the shortage in some ways because it through them that student learn to become nurses. Various nursing schools do not have a capacity to handle several students hence discourage some to leave the course. The government may lack sufficient policies to handle the situation hence many shy away from the profession. Solutions to Nursing Shortages There institutions should expand their capacity to enroll more nursing students. These will mean construction of more physical facilities that can accommodate increased enrollment. To achieve this state government should also increase the funds allocated towards development programs in the education institutions. This measure if implemented they will see to it that qualified applicants are all absorbed into nursing programs (Rosseter, 2012). The institutions should also come up with flexible programs such as evening classes and online studies; this will ease the weight on the normal school programs increasing the output of the work force. The institutions are faces with a shortage of educators; with expansion and high enrollment, more educators will be necessary (Suzanne, 2005). They should offer competitive salaries, favorable working conditions and terms to the educator in order to attract and retain them. They should also broaden the options for the nurse who want to qualify to teach through the advancement of their education. They should promote associate to post graduate degree levels. This will give them a pool of the educator to choose from, and they will not suffer shortages. There should be career fairs and shows to promote the nursing career. This should be down using road shows, internet and media adverts. These promotions will create awareness of the nursing profession, which will lead more people to enroll and lean in the profession (May et al., 2006). There should be the polishing of the image of the profession; by improving the working conditions of those that are already in the profession. The members of the profession will serve as a marketing tool for the profession. The restrictive policy, which prohibits the employment of foreigners, needs some changes to allow outsourcing of services. This will allow the healthcare administrations to outsource for the services of foreigners. This serves as an immediate solution to the problem at hand, as we wait for adjustment within the system. The healthcare facilities should consider a travel nurse program. This will be an interstate exchange program for nurses. When one state has more nurses and another one, is suffering from shortage then some nurses can move to the affected state to assist (May et al., 2006). The high turnover of nurses is a worrying situation. Thus, we should have in place ways of not only recruiting but also retaining of the nurses. The working environment being satisfactory should be a priority (May et al., 2006). Increasing the wage and having a competitive compensation package to go along with it will encourage the existing nurses and attract more to the field. The field should also have opportunities for career growth and progression. This factor working will ensure that the nurses remain working in the healthcare facilities. The healthcare facilities should seek the services of the staffing agents. This will give room for nurse that want to work on hourly bases. This will make it possible to fill the gaps existing in the service provision. When people understand and get interested in nursing, we shall have high enrollment and output. The healthcare facilities with the proper working conditions and attractive wages will attract and retain the nurses. If the concerned party, would collaborate to that end then the problem of the nursing shortage will be no more (May et al., 2006). Reference Buerha, P., Auerbach, D., & Stiger, D. (2009). Health Affairs. The recent surge in nurse employment: causes and implications. 24(4), 657-668. Suzanne, G. (2005). Nursing Against the Odds: How Health Care Cost-Cutting, Media Stereotypes, and Medical Hubris Undermine Nursing and Patient Care. New York: Cornell University Press. May, J. H, Bazzoli G. J & Gerland, A. M. (2006) Hospitals Responses To Nurse Staffing Shortages. Health Aff (Millwood) 25(4), 16-23. Rosseter, R. J. (2012). Nursing Shortage Fact Sheet. New York: American Associations of colleges of Nursing. Feldman, H. R. (2011). Nursing leadership: A concise encyclopedia. New York: Springer Publishing. Read More