Article Summary and Potential Solution
The article “A Nursing Shortage: A Prospect of Global and Local Policies” by Marc et al. (2018) investigated the reasons behind the shortage of nurses worldwide. It was found that “the problem indicates ineffective planning and use of available nursing resources, poor recruitment or an undersupply of a new staff, and global demographic conditions” (Marc et al., 2018, p. 9). In other words, they emphasize that the issue is a multifaceted one, which is why addressing it must be done from a multitude of angles. The possible solution must focus on “improving working and employment conditions, implementing mechanisms regulating salary, and providing the possibility of lifelong learning with the incorporation of mobile and technological innovations as a sustainable solution” (Marc et al., 2018, p. 9). Therefore, a greater degree of investment in resources should be allocated to increase nurses’ pay and assist their work with technologies.
The authors believe that these measures would attract more people to the nursing profession and retain existing nurses, thereby addressing the shortage of nurses. Improving working and employment conditions would create a better work environment and increase job satisfaction, which would be a significant factor in attracting and retaining nurses. Additionally, implementing mechanisms for regulating salaries and providing opportunities for lifelong learning would ensure that nurses are appropriately compensated and have the necessary skills to provide high-quality patient care. Thus, the authors of this article found that the shortage of nurses is due to a variety of factors, including ineffective resource planning, poor recruitment, and demographic conditions (Marc et al., 2018). A possible solution to address this issue is to improve working and employment conditions, regulate salaries, and provide opportunities for lifelong learning that incorporate technology.
Critical Analysis
Nursing shortage and nursing burnout are two major issues that the healthcare industry is facing in under the current conditions. The nursing shortage is a global phenomenon that is affecting the quality of care and putting an additional burden on the existing nursing workforce. On the other hand, nursing burnout is a common occurrence among nurses, which is caused by factors such as excessive workload, low job satisfaction, and lack of support. Both of these issues are interlinked and are major contributors to the overall shortage of nurses. When nurses are overworked and under-compensated, it can lead to high levels of stress and burnout, which can result in high turnover rates and reduced recruitment into the nursing profession. This, in turn, exacerbates the shortage of nurses, creating a vicious cycle.
Moreover, as the world’s population continues to age, there will be an increased demand for healthcare services, which will put even more pressure on the already overworked and under-resourced nursing workforce. In order to face the aging population, it is crucial to address the issue of the nursing shortage and nursing burnout by increasing compensation and reducing workload. It is emphasized that healthcare managers need to focus on developing strong retention and recruitment strategies to ensure patient safety, improved performance, and better job satisfaction among nurses (ANA, 2021). Increasing compensation for nurses would help to attract and retain qualified and competent nurses, as well as improve job satisfaction and reduce stress levels. Furthermore, reducing the workload for nurses would help to prevent burnout and improve the overall quality of care provided to patients. Thus, the nursing shortage and nursing burnout are interlinked and must be addressed simultaneously to ensure that the healthcare industry can meet the needs of the aging population.
References
ANA. (2021). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (4th ed.). American Nurses Association.
Marc, M., Bartosiewicz, A., Burzynska, J., Chmiel, Z., & Januszewicz, P. (2018). A nursing shortage – A prospect of global and local policies. International Nursing Review, 66(1), 9-16. Web.