The “big resignations” that accompanied the Covid-19 pandemic have changed the way people think about work. In fact, finding sustainable and reliable employees has been a daunting challenge for many industries over the past year, forcing many organizations and businesses to cut services or even close their doors.
Healthcare is no exception and has been hit hard by staffing shortages, especially over the past year. One of the most glaring issues facing healthcare facilities lately is a critical shortage of nursing staff, which many healthcare professionals say has led to dangerous patient care practices and outcomes.
in a study Earlier this year, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that “more than 275,000 nurses will need to be added from 2020 to 2030. From 2016 to 2026, employment opportunities for nurses are expected to grow at a faster rate than all other occupations. (9%) .”
The actual net effect of this care shortage has a very real impact on patient care. That is, the patient-to-nurse staffing ratio is completely skewed; for example, while the standard for a standard ICU nurse might be to manage two patients over the course of one shift, a shortage might require that the same nurse now care for 3 or 4 patients— —This paves the way for less-than-ideal care. This is especially true in emergency departments, inpatient units, and intensive care units across the country, resulting in severe delays in care, difficult access to hospital beds, and most importantly, worse health care outcomes Difference.
TOPSHOT – NSW public hospital nurses due to staff shortages and … [+]
For many organizations, these shortages have had dire effects, including Significant disruption to essential servicesor worse, close the door Permanent due to lack of resources. Ultimately, there is only one person who really pays the price for not getting reliable health care: the community.
I’ve written in the past about how the Covid-19 pandemic in general has put enormous pressure on healthcare workers. Doctors are no exception. For millions of doctors around the world, the pandemic has truly tested their resilience and dedication to the field, especially amid shortages of personal protective equipment, high risks on the front lines and challenging working conditions. This is already against the backdrop of a growing shortage of doctors, which experts predict will have a major impact on healthcare delivery over the next decade. In fact, primary health care It is expected to be one of the worst hit by this doctor shortage, painting a dire picture for years to come.
There is no doubt that patients will ultimately suffer the most because of the entire situation, whether it’s due to unsafe staffing practices, overworked healthcare professionals, or simply because organizations cannot open their doors to access care. As such, this issue must be a top priority for policymakers, healthcare leaders, and patient safety advocates around the world, and it must be addressed as quickly as possible.
