NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 5

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4000 Developing a Nursing Perspective

Prof. Name

Date

Analyzing a Current Health Care Problem or Issue

The shortage of healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, is a significant problem that impacts hospitals and clinics worldwide. Insufficient staffing makes it difficult for healthcare providers to give proper care to patients. This situation results in stressed and overworked healthcare professionals, many of whom experience burnout and leave their positions, exacerbating the issue. Consequently, patient safety is jeopardized, and the quality of care declines. To address this, solutions such as better pay, improved work schedules, increased training, and the integration of technology like telehealth have been proposed. These measures can improve retention and support healthcare workers, ensuring better patient outcomes (Jonasdottir et al., 2022). Healthcare leaders must act swiftly to mitigate the risks posed by these workforce shortages. This analysis explores the consequences of healthcare worker shortages and investigates potential solutions to enhance care and support for healthcare providers.

Describing the Healthcare Problem

Healthcare worker shortages, particularly in nursing, are a widespread issue that many hospitals and clinics face, which further strains healthcare professionals by increasing their workloads. Nurses, in particular, are highly affected by this problem. In the United States, for example, approximately 27.65% of nurses leave their positions annually (Bae, 2023). The inadequate number of nurses compromises patient safety, as studies have shown a strong connection between low staffing levels and increased patient mortality rates. A study conducted in Switzerland in 2021 found that reduced nurse staffing on shifts led to a 10% increase in patient mortality odds (Musy et al., 2021). Additionally, in settings where staffing was optimal, patient mortality rates decreased by 8.7%. This highlights the crucial role of sufficient staffing in ensuring patient safety.

The shortage of healthcare workers affects both patients and professionals. Nurses and doctors often experience high stress, fatigue, and job dissatisfaction, contributing to a higher turnover rate. For patients, understaffing can lead to delayed care, increased risks of complications, and worse health outcomes. Solutions for this problem include improving work conditions, offering competitive salaries, providing more training, and offering additional support to healthcare professionals (Zhang et al., 2024). In rural areas, providing incentives like better pay, housing allowances, and improved benefits can help retain healthcare workers (Witter et al., 2021). Research indicates that addressing healthcare worker shortages is essential for reducing burnout, improving care quality, and lowering patient mortality (Musy et al., 2021).

Analyzing the Problem or Issue

The shortage of healthcare workers, particularly nurses, is a global issue that affects both healthcare professionals and patients. A lack of adequate staffing leads to overburdened workers who are more likely to make mistakes due to exhaustion, which increases the likelihood of poor patient outcomes, including higher mortality rates. Research has shown that increasing nurse staffing levels is directly related to improved patient outcomes. For example, in the English National Health Service, each additional 12-hour shift by a registered nurse was associated with a 9.6% reduction in the odds of patient death (Zaranko et al., 2022). Conversely, when staffing levels fell short of target by 16 hours or more, patient mortality odds increased by 22.8%. From personal experience, working in an understaffed unit made it challenging to provide adequate care for all patients, leading to feelings of exhaustion and frustration among staff. Many of my colleagues left the profession due to burnout, underscoring the critical nature of addressing workforce shortages.

This problem is not only detrimental to healthcare professionals but also to patients and their families. When staffing is inadequate, patients may receive insufficient attention, raising concerns among families about the quality of care. Solutions to address this issue include hiring more staff, increasing salaries, and improving working conditions (Bae, 2023; Zhang et al., 2024). Further research into the long-term effects of healthcare worker shortages, as well as the impact of different staffing policies, can guide the development of effective solutions (Bae, 2023). However, challenges persist, including determining the most effective ways to implement technology and training programs, as well as ensuring that retention strategies are sustainable (Zhang et al., 2024).

Potential Solutions

To combat the healthcare worker shortage, particularly among nurses, several solutions have been proposed. One effective solution is improving working conditions by offering better pay, flexible schedules, and additional support. Research indicates that enhancing working conditions helps to retain nurses, which in turn reduces turnover and improves patient care (Bae, 2023). However, this solution may require additional financial resources and time to show measurable results. Another approach involves training and hiring more nurses through expanded nursing programs and scholarships. Hospitals could also implement programs to help new nurses transition into their roles, though this approach requires time, as it takes years to train new healthcare workers (Musy et al., 2021).

Additionally, technological solutions, such as telemedicine and artificial intelligence (AI), can help alleviate the strain on healthcare workers by reducing workloads. AI can assist with administrative tasks, while telemedicine allows doctors to provide care remotely, reducing the need for in-person visits. However, the implementation of these technologies may be costly, and not all healthcare facilities have the necessary resources. Combining multiple strategies—improving working conditions, training new nurses, and utilizing technology—may be the most effective approach to solving the healthcare worker shortage. Yet, the high costs, privacy concerns, and resistance to AI from healthcare workers remain obstacles to widespread adoption (Lasater et al., 2021; Musy et al., 2021).

The Impact of Ethical Principles on Solutions

Ethical considerations play a significant role in developing solutions for healthcare worker shortages. Key ethical principles such as beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice must be taken into account when proposing solutions. Beneficence refers to promoting good outcomes for patients and healthcare workers. For example, hiring more nurses and improving work conditions can reduce staff stress and enhance patient care (Lasater et al., 2021). Nonmaleficence emphasizes avoiding harm, which can be achieved by reducing nurse workloads and preventing errors that could harm patients.

Autonomy is important because it ensures that healthcare workers have control over their work-life balance. By offering flexible schedules and better working conditions, nurses are more likely to stay in the profession. Justice requires that solutions are equitable and fair, ensuring that all areas, including rural regions, have access to healthcare services. Implementing telehealth in rural areas can address this issue by providing easier access to healthcare for underserved populations (Witter et al., 2021). However, it is crucial to ensure that these solutions are fair to all healthcare workers, regardless of gender, race, or location, to avoid exacerbating existing disparities (Longenecker et al., 2020).

Sphere of Care

Chronic disease management, which requires consistent and ongoing care, is significantly impacted by the shortage of healthcare workers. Patients, especially those in rural areas, often face long wait times and limited access to doctors, making it challenging to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. One promising solution to this issue is telehealth. Telehealth allows patients to consult with doctors remotely, which is particularly beneficial for individuals in rural areas who may have difficulty traveling to healthcare facilities. Telehealth enables more frequent monitoring of patients’ conditions, potentially preventing complications and improving health outcomes. For example, telehealth allows regular check-ins for diabetic patients, enabling adjustments to medication or lifestyle without the need for in-person visits. While some patients still prefer in-person visits for more thorough examinations, telemedicine has proven to be a cost-effective and convenient alternative (Moulaei et al., 2023).

Moreover, telehealth benefits healthcare workers by reducing the pressure of managing numerous in-person appointments. It also allows doctors and nurses to provide care to more patients in a given time frame, reducing stress and increasing efficiency. By expanding access to specialists and reducing patient travel, telehealth ensures that patients in underserved areas receive fair and equal access to healthcare, adhering to the ethical principle of justice. It also supports beneficence by improving patient well-being and nonmaleficence by reducing the risk of harm (Jonasdottir et al., 2022). Therefore, telehealth is a valuable tool for improving chronic disease management, benefiting both patients and healthcare workers.

Conclusion

The shortage of healthcare workers presents a serious challenge to the healthcare system, affecting both healthcare professionals and patients. By implementing solutions such as better pay, improved working conditions, more training, and the use of technology like telehealth, the healthcare workforce can be better supported, and patient care can be improved. Prompt action is needed from hospital leaders and policymakers to address these issues and ensure that healthcare workers are supported, and patients receive the care they need.

References

Bae, S.-H. (2023). Comprehensive assessment of factors contributing to the actual turnover of newly licensed registered nurses working in acute care hospitals: A systematic review. BMC Nursing, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-023-01190-3

Jonasdottir, S. K., Thordardottir, I., & Jonsdottir, T. (2022). Health professionals’ perspective towards challenges and opportunities of telehealth service provision: A scoping review. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 167, 104862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2022.104862

Lasater, K. B., Aiken, L. H., Sloane, D., French, R., Martin, B., Alexander, M., & McHugh, M. D. (2021). Patient outcomes and cost savings associated with hospital safe nurse staffing legislation: An observational study. BMJ Open, 11(12), e052899. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052899

Longenecker, R. L., Andrilla, C. H. A., Jopson, A. D., Evans, D. V., Schmitz, D., Larson, E. H., & Patterson, D. G. (2020). Pipelines to pathways: Medical school commitment to producing a rural workforce. The Journal of Rural Health, 37(4), 723–733. https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12542

Moulaei, K., Sheikhtaheri, A., Fatehi, F., Yazdani, A., & Bahaadinbeigy, K. (2023). Patients’ perspectives and preferences toward telemedicine versus in-person visits: A mixed-methods study on 1226 patients. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-023-02348-4

NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 5

Musy, S. N., Endrich, O., Leichtle, A. B., Griffiths, P., Nakas, C. T., & Simon, M. (2021). The association between nurse staffing and inpatient mortality: A shift-level retrospective longitudinal study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 120(103950), 103950. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.103950

Witter, S., Herbst, C. H., Smitz, M., Balde, M. D., Magazi, I., & Zaman, R. U. (2021). How to attract and retain health workers in rural areas of a fragile state: Findings from a labour market survey in Guinea. PloS One, 16(12), e0245569. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245569

Zaranko, B., Sanford, N. J., Kelly, E., Rafferty, A. M., Bird, J., Mercuri, L., Sigsworth, J., Wells, M., & Propper, C. (2022). Nurse staffing and inpatient mortality in the English national health service: A retrospective longitudinal study. BMJ Quality & Safety, 32(5), bmjqs-2022-015291. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2022-015291

NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 5

Zhang, H., Abdullah, V. C. W. B., & Wong, L. (2024). The association between burnout, perceived organizational support, and perceived professional benefits among nurses in China. Heliyon, e39371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39371