Question

the nursing shortage and its effects

Answer 1

Ans) The shortage of nurses leads to an increase in the workload of the existing workforce, which results in a predictable increase in medication errors. Close to half of all nurses employed have admitted to committing a medication error in the past year.

- Errors may range from infusing medicines at the wrong rate (most common) to giving the wrong medicine or mixing up medicines between patients, which easily can result in fatal consequences.

- Worryingly, inadequate education and training is the most common reason for medication errors while fatigue is the second-most common reason. This issue is indicative of a more serious problem of inadequate infrastructure and lack of qualified educators for training RNs.

• Resolving the Problem of Shortage of Nurses
- Considering the fact that demand for RNs is high with limited supply, it is surprising that just half of RNs have indicated being satisfied with their salaries. Simply paying more and offering bonuses to those individuals who sign on to become nurses can go a long way in rectifying the problem.

- Another strategy would be to expand beyond conventional target groups and seek out people from underrepresented backgrounds. Apart from attracting top talent and alleviating the shortage, this approach will help create diversity within the profession.

- Thirdly, providing better training and education will help create more opportunities for those individuals already in the existing pool of RNs seeking better growth in their field. This professional development can create a sense of loyalty, which can go a long way in tackling the problem of high turnover of nurses in hospitals.

- Finally, hospitals could opt for seasonal hiring of temporary nurses during surges in hospital admissions. People don’t fall ill at the same rate throughout the year, which may create a situation when there seems to be a dearth of nurses when simply hiring more people for a short period of time may reduce patient care delays and resolve the issue.