Introduction
According to World Health Organization, the health industry is facing various challenges. The most critical challenge is a shortage of health care personnel such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. This is hindering the health industry to effectively and efficiently rendering its services to society. There are numerous ailments that have been diagnosed over the years and it is vital that these diseases be treated immediately.
In the health industry, one of the most pressing issues is nurse shortage. This has an impact on how the patients are assessed, diagnosed and treated. According to AYA Health Care (n.d, p.2), nursing as a profession form the largest proportion of the healthcare industry. As a result, it has the greatest impact on the lives of patients. In most health care facilities, the patient-nurse ratio has been compromised. This has led to a reduction of the quality of care that nurses offer to patients as well as putting patient care difficult. According to Nursing Advocacy (2008, para.5), the ratio of nurses to patients should be about five or eight. Hospital size, bed capacity, and the number of patients in each ward are some of the determinants of the number of nurses that a particular hospital should have. This will also determine the ratio of nurse to the patient per day. Therefore steps have been taken in the health industry to address this issue and promote nursing as a profession.
In the medical-surgical unit of the ABC hospital is facing critical nursing shortages. This has impact on patients because in this unit the patients are unconscious and therefore helpless. Therefore, in the medical- surgical unit, the ratio of nurse to patient should be higher. The shortage can be associated with a number of factors such as poor remuneration, adverse working conditions, expanded career options in relation to women, increment in aging population and limited resources to conduct research in nursing.
Causes of nurses’ shortages
Expanded career for women
Currently, women are enjoying a wide range of career choices and hence few join the nursing profession which is mostly termed as the women profession. Most women are opting for less demanding and exciting carriers such as marketing, designing, mass communication among others. This has lead to shortage of nurses in hospitals.
Poor remuneration
This is another factor that has led to the critical shortage of nurses in the health industry in most countries and especially in third world countries. Third world countries have been characterized by massive migration of nurses to countries such as Australia and US where they are offered better pay. This leads to brain drain and hence shortage of nurses in the health industry in the affected nations.
Poor working conditions
According to AYA Health Care (n.d, p.2), poor working conditions in the health industry has lead to shortage of nurses. Poor working conditions include lack of job security, poor terms and conditions which are mostly caused by poor management. These have caused nurses to move to other professionals or move to other countries where the working conditions are favorable.
Inadequate financial support
Inadequate financial support from t he government has also contributed to shortage of nurses in the health industry. It has affected the nursing institutions efforts to train more nurses and hence only few nurses are trained. Shortage in finances has also slowed down the nursing research because it is receiving little funding.
Remedies
Improve the working conditions
The heath industry should improve the working conditions for the nurses so that they can enjoy their profession. This will also reduce their movement to other countries and hence reduce brain drain. In addition, it will attract many people to join the nursing as a profession. This will curb the problem of nursing shortage (Nursing advocacy, 2008, para. 1-8).
Increase nurses remuneration
When salaries paid to the nurses are increased, the problem of nurse shortage will be greatly reduced. This is because many will join the profession and also those already in the profession will not quit their profession to look for other occupation that might be offering better pay. Thus, they will not change their career or move to other countries to look for employment.
Increase the financial support
AYA Health Care (n.d, p.3) is of the opinion that the government should finance nursing institutions so that they can be able to train more nurses per year. In addition, enough finances should be provided to fund the nursing research. This will assure nurses their profession is recognized and hence many will be attracted to join it.
Nurses considered as a profession for all genders
Currently nursing is considered as a women profession.Therefore, men should be encouraged to join the profession. Seminars should be conducted in the learning institution to campaign against the gender biasness of the nursing carrier and more men encouraged joining. This will help to reduce the nursing shortage in the health industry (Nursing advocacy, 2008, para. 4).
Conclusion
For medical-surgical unit of ABC Hospital to reduce its shortage of nurses, the management should ensure that the nurses are well paid. In addition, working condition should be conducive for the nurses. In addition, the facility should also employ more men.
References
AYA Health Care. (n.d). Nursing shortage. Web.
Nursing Advocacy. (2008). Increased public understanding of nursing. Web.