NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2

Student Name

Capella University

NURS-FPX4000 Developing a Nursing Perspective

Prof. Name

Date

Applying Research Skills

The global shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly in the United States, has become a significant challenge. The increasing demand for healthcare services, coupled with high turnover rates, has led to excessive workloads and burnout among healthcare personnel. This crisis negatively impacts the quality of patient care and contributes to rising healthcare costs. A primary factor in this shortage is the rapid decline in nursing staff, with estimates predicting a reduction of approximately 7.61 million nurses by 2030. In the U.S., the current nurse turnover rate stands at 26.9% (Ren et al., 2024). Addressing this issue is critical to improving healthcare service delivery and patient safety, as understaffing is linked to increased patient mortality rates ranging from 2.1% to 3.2% (Griffiths et al., 2023). This assessment presents an annotated bibliography that explores the healthcare workforce crisis and its effects on nursing.

Personal Interest and Professional Experience

The issue of workforce shortages is personally and professionally relevant, as it significantly impacts healthcare professionals and patient outcomes. Shortages create an overwhelming workload for healthcare workers, leading to increased stress, job dissatisfaction, and high turnover rates. In my professional experience, I have witnessed the consequences of understaffing, where nurses and physicians are required to manage excessive patient loads, resulting in exhaustion and burnout. These challenges compromise the quality of care and affect job satisfaction. Throughout my nursing practice, I have encountered situations where limited staffing resulted in delayed patient care, increased stress, and diminished morale among healthcare workers. These firsthand experiences underscore the urgent need for sustainable workforce solutions to ensure both patient safety and the well-being of healthcare providers.

Research and Selection Process

The research process involved an extensive search for relevant literature on healthcare workforce shortages, focusing specifically on nursing understaffing. Several academic databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, and ProQuest, were utilized to identify credible sources. The research strategy included using targeted keywords such as “healthcare workforce shortage,” “nurse and physician shortage,” and “solutions to healthcare staffing crisis.” Boolean operators “AND” and “OR” were applied to refine search results, ensuring the inclusion of highly relevant studies. Additional keywords like “staffing shortage and patient safety,” “nurse shortage and burnout,” and “staff retention and care quality” helped narrow the focus further. Filters were applied to select peer-reviewed articles published within the last five years to maintain relevance and credibility. Ultimately, three scholarly sources were chosen based on their discussion of workforce shortages and potential solutions.

Assessing the Credibility and Relevance of Sources

To ensure the reliability of the selected sources, the CRAAP test was applied, evaluating articles based on Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose (Muis et al., 2022). Currency was maintained by prioritizing articles published within the past five years, ensuring that the information remained up to date. Relevance was assessed by determining how effectively the articles addressed workforce shortages and their impact on healthcare. Authority was verified by examining the credentials of the authors and the credibility of the journals in which the studies appeared. Accuracy was determined by evaluating whether the articles were evidence-based and supported by reliable citations. Lastly, Purpose was analyzed to ascertain whether the studies aimed to inform, analyze, or propose solutions for staffing shortages. By applying these criteria, only high-quality, relevant, and evidence-based sources were included in the research.

Table: Key Aspects of Research on Healthcare Workforce Shortages

References

Alshahrani, S. H. (2022). Reasons, consequences, and suggested solutions for nursing workforce shortage: A review of literature. International Journal of Health Sciences, 6(S5), 1557–1568. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6nS5.9004

Griffiths, P., Saville, C., Ball, J., Dall’Ora, C., Meredith, P., Turner, L., & Jones, J. (2023). Costs and cost-effectiveness of improved nurse staffing levels and skill mix in acute hospitals: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 147, 104601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2023.104601

Marufu, T. C., Collins, A., Vargas, L., Gillespie, L., & Almghairbi, D. (2021). Factors influencing retention among hospital nurses: Systematic review. British Journal of Nursing, 30(5), 302-308. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2021.30.5.302

NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2

Muis, R., Denton, C., & Dubé, A. (2022). Identifying CRAAP on the internet: A source evaluation intervention. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(7), 239-265. http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.97.12670

Noya, F., Carr, S., Freeman, K., Thompson, S., Clifford, R., & Playford, D. (2021). Strategies to facilitate improved recruitment, development, and retention of the rural and remote medical workforce: A scoping review. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 11(10), 2022. https://doi.org/10.34172/ijhpm.2021.160

Ren, H., Li, P., Xue, Y., Xin, W., Yin, X., & Li, H. (2024). Global prevalence of nurse turnover rates: A meta‐analysis of 21 studies from 14 countries. Journal of Nursing Management, 2024(1), 5063998. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5063998