Nursing Shortage
Examined -
Policymaker Visit
Kevin Clarke
Chamberlain College of Nursing
NR 506 Health Care Policy
October 14, 2014
INTRODUCTION
•
The nursing shortage has been around for the greater part
of the 20
th
century,
and now into the 21
st
century, and has
placed the healthcare system under some significant
strain
•
The shortage has caused problems such as higher nurse to
patient ratios, and poor patient outcomes
•
Factors that have contributed to the shortage include
increased need for healthcare, limited number of
educators in the field, and recruitment and retention
challenges
INTRODUCTION
•
Nurse leaders are challenged to identify creative solutions to
this policy priority issue of nursing shortage
•
Collaboration with stakeholders, and policymakers is key to
the implementation of potential solutions to the nursing
shortage problem
•
Efforts may be best focused at the local level which gives a
greater chance of success with less obstacles to overcome
•
Overcoming the nursing shortage at a local facility through
collaboration with the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) is a good
first step to successfully addressing this issue.
Overview of Policymaker Visit
•
The policymaker chosen for this visit is a Registered
Nurse who serves as the CNO in the local facility
•
The visit was done face to face with two members of the
hospital team who are both actively involved in making
policy changes in the local facility – the CNO, and a unit
director
•
The visit lasted 45 minutes, in which time the policy
issue was presented and reviewed, with subsequent
feedback from the policymakers
Overview of Policymaker Visit
•
A clear message was communicated about the shortage of
nurses and its effect on the health-care industry
•
Recommendations were made for changes to be made to
the current hospital policies in order to promote patient
safety, and improved outcomes.
