Mariia Yarmolenko Outline+Draft

Mariia Yarmolenko

CRT 100-053W

Prof. Barnes

March 29, 2024

Outline

Topic: Nursing Shortage: causes and solutions

Intro: At the end of last year, my mother was hospitalized twice in the emergency room. The good news: she is fine. The bad news is that as a nursing student, I was curious about how nurses and doctors work, but I realized that I did not want to work in an emergency room. I saw the working conditions in quite good hospitals in New York City, the smiles, the politeness of the medical staff, and the incredible fatigue and lack of them in the department. Due to the heavy workload, we had to wait quite a long time for a nurse to put in or remove the IV solution. Unfortunately, such situations, which can even lead to unnecessary deaths, do not occur in just one New York City. Nursing shortages are a problem across the United States and must be addressed. To address the issue and maintain the quality of patient care, institutional reforms and increased investment in education and recruitment measures are needed to address the nursing shortages, including an aging nursing workforce, limited money for education, and work conditions that lead to burnout.

Premise 1: After 9/11, the topic of nursing shortages was raised again, and dire predictions were made if the problem was not addressed. However, Covid-19 has added to the difficult conditions, and now the situation is even worse and needs to be addressed immediately.

Supporting Evidence: “Nationwide, there was a shortage in 2001 of 126,000 full-time RNs, but the shortage will surge to 808,000 by 2020 if something isn’t done.” (Hansen)

“Roughly 100,000 U.S. nurses have exited the workforce due to COVID-19-related stress and burnout, according to an April 2023 survey by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Furthermore, a survey by McKinsey & Co., a consulting firm, published in March 2023 found that more than 40 percent of inpatient registered nurses who responded said they intended to leave their role in direct patient care within the next year.” (Fischer)

Premise 2: At the moment, the main reasons for the shortage of nurses are an abnormal ratio of nurses to patients, burnout and violence in the workplace, aging of staff and patients, and a decrease in places in nursing programs due to a lack of experienced nurses.

Supporting Evidence: “When it comes to industry burnout and nurses feeling undervalued, a core contributor is nurse-to-patient staffing ratios.” (Fischer)

“A common occurrence in healthcare, workplace violence can occur on a spectrum that starts with threats and progresses to assault or even homicide…Violence committed by a patient, family, or friend is the most common type experienced by nurses.” (Perkins)

“As of 2018, 55% of nurses working in the US are older than age 50; within the next 10 to 15 years, 1 million RNs will be eligible for retirement” (Perkins)

“Some of the main reasons for turning away qualified students, according to the AACN, were “insufficient clinical placement sites,” limited faculty, lack of classrooms and budget cuts.” (Fischer)

Premise 3/ Opposing Viewpoint: The shortage of nurses can be solved by traveling nurses and nurses from other countries, as they will bring new experiences.

Supporting Evidence: “Staffing agencies have long helped provide health care settings temporarily short on nurses with international recruits and domestic travel nurses.” (Fischer)

“Angela says international recruitment can both solve nursing shortages for other countries and create a better economic future for foreign-born workers.” (Fischer)

Premise 4: The nursing shortage can be solved by comprehensive measures and cooperation between local governments and hospital owners. The problem can be solved by removing the policy of reducing staff to save money, improving working conditions, and helping young nurses adapt to hospital conditions.

Supporting Evidence: “Nurse administrators/managers, leaders, and those providing direct patient care can work together to make a positive difference.” (Perkins)

“Nurses working in well-staffed facilities rate the quality of care higher, are less likely to report poor patient safety culture, and are more likely to recommend the facility to others.” (Perkins)

Conclusion: Addressing nursing shortages requires significant changes in institutional practices and increased investment in education and recruitment efforts. We can ensure better patient care and sustain the nursing profession by tackling issues like an aging workforce, limited funding for education, and challenging work environments. This topic is important because it directly impacts patient outcomes and the effectiveness of healthcare systems, underscoring the need for urgent action to resolve nursing shortages.

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Draft

The nursing shortage crisis is complex, with several interconnected factors contributing to the strain on healthcare systems and the nursing profession. One of the most significant factors is the nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. “When it comes to industry burnout and nurses feeling undervalued, a core contributor is nurse-to-patient staffing ratios.” (Fischer) These ratios determine the workload and stress levels experienced by nurses on the front line of patient care. When inadequate staffing levels, nurses are often overworked and stretched thin, leading to burnout, job dissatisfaction, and high turnover rates.

Moreover, nursing programs’ limited capacity also contributes to the nursing shortage (citation). Challenges such as inadequate clinical placement sites and faculty shortages compound the issue by stifling the pipeline of new nurses entering the workforce. This is further complicated by the fact that nursing programs are struggling to keep up with the demand for new nurses.

It is essential to note that proposals to address nursing shortages by recruiting traveling nurses and international candidates offer temporary relief. Still, they fail to provide sustainable solutions to the underlying systemic issues. Instead, efforts must focus on comprehensive strategies and collaborative initiatives involving local governments, healthcare institutions, and educational bodies. These initiatives should prioritize eliminating cost-saving policies compromising staffing levels, improving working conditions to foster a supportive and nurturing environment for nurses, and implementing targeted support programs for new graduates.

Effective management practices, strong leadership, and a commitment to nurse well-being are crucial in navigating the challenges of nursing shortages. Facilities with adequate staffing levels deliver higher-quality care, cultivate a positive patient safety culture, and garner greater trust and satisfaction among patients and staff. As such, addressing nursing shortages is not just a matter of mitigating workforce gaps but also a fundamental necessity for upholding the integrity and efficacy of healthcare delivery systems.

Overcoming nursing shortages demands a multifaceted approach that addresses the issue’s root causes and fosters a supportive and sustainable nursing workforce. By addressing factors such as staffing ratios, workplace conditions, and educational capacity, healthcare institutions can ensure better patient outcomes and bolster the resilience of the nursing profession. This topic warrants urgent attention and concerted action to safeguard the future of healthcare and uphold the principles of quality and compassion in patient care.

Work Cited:

Perkins, Amanda. “Nursing Shortage: Consequences and Solutions.” Nursing Made Incredibly Easy! vol. 19, no. 5, 2021, pp. 49–54, https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NME.0000767268.61806.d9

Fischer, Karen. “U.S. Nursing Shortage“. CQ Researcher, 12 Jan 2024. Thousand Oaks, California: CQ Press, 2024. 31 Mar 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.4135/cqresrre20240112

Hansen, Brian. “Nursing Shortage”. CQ Researcher, 20 Sep 2002. Thousand Oaks, California: CQ Press, 2002. 31 Mar 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.4135/cqresrre20020920