IO002 Professionalism

Student Name

University

NURS 6053 Interprofessional Organizational and Systems Leadership

Prof. Name

Date

Organizational Policies Report

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the nursing shortage has become increasingly apparent in healthcare settings (Jacobs, 2021). Today, there is a significant deficit of nurses, particularly experienced ones, coupled with a high demand for their services. This situation has exacerbated the complexity of healthcare organizations, resulting in shortages of both beds and nursing staff to provide adequate medical care, especially for patients with conditions unfamiliar to nurses (Jacobs, 2021). Competing needs between staff, the organization, and patients have further exacerbated this shortage. This paper aims to synthesize the competing needs contributing to the nurse shortage and identify policies and practices impacting this issue.

Competing Needs

As the nursing workforce ages, more nurses are retiring than are being replaced, leading to a projected loss of over 2 million years of nursing experience annually between 2020 and 2030 (Buerhaus, 2021). Additionally, nurses are pursuing advanced degrees and transitioning into management or non-traditional nursing roles (Buerhaus, 2021). The primary competing needs affecting the nursing shortage include nurse workload and achieving a balance between family and work life. Unsafe working environments, job dissatisfaction, lack of autonomy, excessive workload, and burnout are factors negatively impacting nurse retention (Saikia, 2018). The aging population with its associated chronic medical issues further exacerbates workload pressures on existing nurses. Balancing work and family life poses challenges, particularly for nurses in their childbearing years, with maternity leaves and caregiving responsibilities contributing to the shortage (Marć et al., 2018).

Policy or Practice that Impacts Nursing Shortage

To address the nursing shortage, facilities are implementing policies or adjusting their practices. For example, Prairie Ridge Health has established staffing policies specifying nurse-to-patient ratios, such as having one nurse alone in the obstetrics unit and two nurses constantly available on the medical-surgical unit, irrespective of patient numbers. While seasoned nurses may adapt to such policies, newer nurses have expressed concerns about feeling unsupported and unsafe (Jacobs, 2021).

Critique of Policy for Ethical Considerations

Nurses are committed to providing patient-centered care, but organizational policies influenced by healthcare business models can create ethical conflicts, particularly for new nurses (Kelly & Porr, 2018). While staffing policies aim to ensure consistency and fiscal responsibility, they must also prioritize safe and ethical patient care. Developing ethical awareness among nurses empowers them to navigate these challenges and advocate for safe practices (Milliken, 2018).

Policy Recommendations

Numerous recommendations have been proposed to address competing needs and alleviate the nursing shortage. Healthcare organizations should prioritize empowering nurses by providing them with a stronger voice, opportunities for advancement, and fostering safe work environments. I recommend establishing a minimum staffing requirement of two nurses per unit to ensure patient safety and mitigate nurse turnover. Research suggests that adequate staffing correlates with reduced hospital stays, thereby demonstrating potential economic benefits (Phillips et al., 2021).

Conclusion

Addressing the nursing shortage requires proactive measures to ensure nurse safety and job satisfaction. High turnover rates among new graduate nurses incur significant organizational costs, emphasizing the importance of implementing effective staffing policies (Pickens & Palokas, 2023).

References

(Note: Please ensure that the following references are properly formatted according to APA style.)

Buerhaus, P. I. (2021). Current nursing shortages could have long-lasting consequences: Time to change our present course. Nursing Economics, 39(5), 247-250.

Jacobs, A. (2021). ‘Nursing is in crisis’: Staff shortages put patients at risk. New York Times.

Kelly, P., & Porr, C. (2018). Ethical nursing care versus cost containment: Considerations to enhance RN practice. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(1), Manuscript 6.

NURS 6053 Assessment 2 IO002 Professionalism

Marć, M., Bartosiewicz, A., Burzyńska, J., Chmiel, Z., & Januszewicz, P. (2018). A nursing shortage – a prospect of global and local policies. International Nursing Review, 66(1), 9–16.

Milliken, A. (2018). Ethical awareness: What it is and why it matters. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(1).

Phillips, J., Malliaris, A. P., & Bakerjian, D. (2021). Nursing and patient safety. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Pickens, J. B., & Palokas, M. (2023). Barriers and facilitators for implementing a nurse residency program for new graduate nurses: A scoping review protocol. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 21(7), 1461-1468.

IO002 Professionalism