NURS FPX 8030 Assessment 1 Building the Case for Healthcare Improvement

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX 8030 Evidence-Based Practice Process for the Nursing Doctoral Learner

Prof. Name

Date

Nursing Shortage

The presentation will cover several important aspects, including patient safety, the nursing shortage, internal evidence of the nursing shortage, the organizational priority for intervention, the quality improvement project, and the anticipated outcomes of addressing the nursing shortage.

Patient Safety

Patient safety refers to the efforts made to prevent avoidable medical errors and minimize unnecessary patient suffering (Perkins, 2021). One of the main goals is to reduce the likelihood of medical errors, ensuring that patients are not subjected to harm. Medical errors are a global concern, with the annual cost of medication errors alone reaching an estimated $42 billion (Perkins, 2021). In high-income countries, health care-associated infections affect approximately 7% of patients, while in low- and middle-income countries, this figure rises to 10%. Diagnostic errors, which affect about 5% of outpatient care patients, often lead to severe harm, with 50% of these errors resulting in critical outcomes (Perkins, 2021). This presentation focuses on the nursing shortage as a factor that exacerbates patient safety challenges.

Nursing Shortage

The nursing shortage is an increasing concern that threatens the healthcare system, particularly as the U.S. population ages. By 2030, every member of the baby boomer generation (born between 1946 and 1964) will be 65 years or older, significantly increasing the demand for healthcare services (Perkins, 2021). As individuals live longer, their need for medical care also rises. Additionally, competition from the private sector, offering better compensation and working conditions, is contributing to the loss of experienced nurses. The COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the situation, with around 47% of healthcare professionals contemplating leaving the field (Perkins, 2021). Without sufficient staffing, hospitals risk deteriorating patient care and overall system breakdown.

NURS FPX 8030 Assessment 1 Building the Case for Healthcare Improvement

Internal Evidence

Internal research at our healthcare institution reveals consistent concerns about nurse job satisfaction across various practice areas, ages, and experience levels. While only 10% of surveyed nurses report satisfaction in their current roles, 36% would consider staying if specific improvements were implemented. Nurses have emphasized the need for job security, better working conditions, and higher salaries. The nursing workload has increased, and the number of resources available has decreased. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, ICU nurse-to-patient ratios were typically 1:1 or 2:1, but now ratios have increased to 3:1 or 4:1, putting both patients and nurses at greater risk. Overburdened nurses are unable to provide adequate time and attention to each patient, which affects both nurse well-being and patient outcomes.

External Evidence

In the U.S., there are currently over 3.9 million registered nurses (RNs), and it is predicted that more than 500,000 RNs will retire by 2022 (Buddy et al., 2022). To meet the growing demand, an additional 1.1 million nurses will be needed. This increase is largely due to the replacement of retiring nurses. The percentage of RNs aged 55 to 64 who plan to retire or leave the profession has more than quadrupled from 2018 to 2020 (Pal et al., 2022). In addition, nursing schools are facing faculty shortages, challenges in arranging clinical placements, and strict state regulations, leading to a decline in student enrollment. These factors have made it difficult to train the next generation of nurses. Increasing nurse staffing levels has been shown to reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes (Buddy et al., 2022).

Organizational Priority for Intervention

When staffing levels are insufficient, nurses are forced to take on more tasks, which can compromise the quality of care. Nurses working longer hours are more prone to making errors, which negatively affects patient care. Studies show that negative perceptions of hospital care are closely linked to missed nursing treatments due to staffing shortages (Jarosinski et al., 2021). In understaffed hospitals, there are higher rates of in-hospital mortality, infections, postoperative complications, and patient falls.

Nurses experiencing fatigue or burnout may struggle to perform accurate and timely assessments. With fewer nurses available to handle both clinical and administrative tasks, patients requiring urgent care face longer waiting times. Furthermore, overburdened nurses may make serious medication errors (Jarosinski et al., 2021). Addressing staffing imbalances and promoting a balanced nurse-to-patient ratio can help alleviate these issues.

Quality Improvement Project

The nursing shortage is expected to worsen by 2030, with long-term consequences for the healthcare system (Jarosinski et al., 2021). The first step in addressing this issue is improving the working conditions for nurses. Many healthcare workers have been undervalued, and low morale can contribute to a toxic work culture. Recognizing and appreciating nurses’ efforts is essential to improving retention rates. Nurse executives must prioritize retention over recruitment, implementing strategies like reducing shift durations and overtime. Jarosinski et al. (2021) highlight the importance of increasing the number of nurse educators to help address the shortage. Retiring nurses could be a valuable resource in meeting the demand for educators, and technology could also play a crucial role in transforming healthcare education.

Outcomes

The “Principles for Nurse Staffing” document, created by the American Nurses Association (ANA), provides guidance on creating effective nurse staffing policies (Credland, 2021). Proper staffing standards are essential for ensuring that nurses can provide the best care possible. When there are sufficient nurses on duty, patients are less likely to experience confusion or extended hospital stays. Higher nurse-to-patient ratios improve care quality and lead to better patient outcomes. Credland (2021) asserts that adequate staffing enhances care coordination and collaboration, making healthcare delivery more efficient and effective.

References

Credland, N. (2021). ICU nursing shortage can no longer be ignored. Emergency Nurse, 29(1), 14-14. https://doi.org/10.7748/en.29.1.14.s12

Jarosinski, J. M., Seldomridge, L., Reid, T. P., & Willey, J. (2021). Nurse faculty shortage. Nurse Educator, 47(3), 151-155. https://doi.org/10.1097/nne.0000000000001139

Pal, A. D., Bowler, F., Flynn Makic, M. B., & Estes, K. R. (2022). Virtual simulation for advanced practice registered nurse students: Adapting to shortage of clinicals. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 18(5), 563-568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2022.02.005

NURS FPX 8030 Assessment 1 Building the Case for Healthcare Improvement

Perkins, A. (2021). Nursing shortage. Nursing Made Incredibly Easy!, 19(5), 49-54. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nme.0000767268.61806.d9