NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4000 Developing a Nursing Perspective

Prof. Name

Date

Applying Research Skills

The shortage of healthcare professionals, especially doctors, nurses, and allied health workers, is a growing crisis worldwide, with particularly severe consequences in the United States. This shortage results in higher workload stress, burnout, lower-quality patient care, and increased healthcare costs. High turnover rates in the nursing workforce are a significant contributor to this issue, and it is predicted that by 2030, the global nursing shortage will reach 7.61 million (Ren et al., 2024). This shortage is detrimental to patient safety, with inadequate nurse staffing leading to a 2.1–3.2% increase in mortality risk (Griffiths et al., 2023). Therefore, addressing the healthcare workforce shortage is critical to improving patient safety and care services. This article explores the importance of this issue, personal insights, and strategies for addressing the workforce crisis.

Personal Insights and Professional Experiences in Healthcare

The issue of healthcare workforce shortages is deeply personal and professional for me, as it affects both healthcare workers and patients. The strain on healthcare personnel often leads to job dissatisfaction, high turnover, and ultimately poor patient care. From my personal experience in the healthcare field, I have seen firsthand how understaffed hospitals result in overburdened doctors and nurses who struggle to manage excessive patient loads. This leads to physical exhaustion, mental fatigue, and, eventually, burnout. For example, during my nursing practice, I witnessed how an understaffed unit caused nurses like myself to manage more patients than usual, resulting in stress and burnout, which in turn impacted the quality of care provided. This scenario highlights the severe toll that the healthcare workforce shortage can have on the physical and emotional health of healthcare workers.

Research Process and Methodology

In addressing the healthcare workforce shortage, particularly nurse understaffing, I conducted a comprehensive literature review using several online databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, and ProQuest. The search strategy involved using relevant keywords such as “healthcare workforce shortage,” “nurse and physician shortage,” and “solutions to healthcare staffing crisis.” To refine the search results, Boolean operators like “AND” and “OR” were applied, along with filters for peer-reviewed articles and resources from the past five years. Key search terms included “staffing shortage and patient safety,” “nurse shortage and burnout,” and “staff retention and care quality.” After a detailed review of the available literature, I selected three peer-reviewed articles that analyzed the staffing shortage issue and potential solutions to address it.

Assessing the Credibility and Relevance of Sources

Each of the articles selected was evaluated for credibility using the CRAAP criteria, which stand for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose (Muis et al., 2022). To ensure the articles’ reliability, I confirmed that they were published in reputable peer-reviewed journals within the last five years, as this ensures the inclusion of the most current data. The relevance of the articles was evaluated based on their direct connection to healthcare workforce issues, particularly nurse understaffing. The authority of the authors was verified by examining their credentials and the reputation of the journals in which the articles were published. The accuracy of the data was ensured by verifying citations and ensuring that the information was evidence-based. Lastly, the purpose of each article was assessed to ensure that it aimed to provide solutions or insights into addressing staffing shortages. By applying the CRAAP method, I ensured that the selected resources were both credible and relevant to the research topic.

Annotated Bibliography

Summary of Findings

Conducting this annotated bibliography strengthened my research skills, allowing me to better analyze sources and understand the multifaceted nature of the healthcare workforce shortage. The articles provided valuable insights into factors such as aging populations, workload demands, and limited opportunities for professional growth, which all contribute to the shortage. For instance, Alshahrani (2022) highlights the need for improved nurse retention strategies, such as flexible work schedules and increased salaries. Similarly, Marufu et al. (2021) emphasize the importance of fostering a supportive work environment to reduce turnover. Noya et al. (2021) suggest that improving healthcare infrastructure and offering financial incentives can help address staffing shortages in rural areas.

In conclusion, this research has enhanced my understanding of the underlying factors contributing to healthcare workforce shortages and provided actionable solutions. The annotated bibliography has helped me synthesize the importance of addressing these issues to improve both nurse satisfaction and patient care. The information gathered is crucial for informing future research and professional practices in the healthcare field.

References

Alshahrani, S. H. (2022). Reasons, consequences, and suggested solutions for nursing workforce shortage: A review of literature. International Journal of Health Sciences, 6(S5), 1557–1568. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6nS5.9004

Griffiths, P., Saville, C., Ball, J., Dall’Ora, C., Meredith, P., Turner, L., & Jones, J. (2023). Costs and cost-effectiveness of improved nurse staffing levels and skill mix in acute hospitals: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 147, 104601–104601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2023.104601

NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2

Marufu, T. C., Collins, A., Vargas, L., Gillespie, L., & Almghairbi, D. (2021). Factors influencing retention among hospital nurses: Systematic review. British Journal of Nursing, 30(5), 302-308. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2021.30.5.302

Muis, R., Denton, C., & Dubé, A. (2022). Identifying CRAAP on the internet: A source evaluation intervention. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(7), 239-265. http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.97.12670

Noya, F., Carr, S., Freeman, K., Thompson, S., Clifford, R., & Playford, D. (2021). Strategies to facilitate improved recruitment, development, and retention of the rural and remote medical workforce: A scoping review. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 11(10), 2022. https://doi.org/10.34172/ijhpm.2021.160

Ren, H., Li, P., Xue, Y., Xin, W., Yin, X., & Li, H. (2024). Global prevalence of nurse turnover rates: A meta‐analysis of 21 studies from 14 countries. Journal of Nursing Management, 2024(1), 5063998. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5063998