Burnout and working conditions for nurses have been persistent problems, but as post-pandemic trends solidify, nurses and physicians need to partner now to address the growing hospital nursing workforce crisis, according to an opinion piece published online in JAMA Internal Medicine.
“Although nursing workforce shortages have persisted for decades, since 2020 the U.S. has witnessed unprecedented disruptions, particularly in acute care settings. Nurse vacancy rates in hospitals are at an all-time high and may soon worsen,” Deena Kelly Costa, PhD, RN, of Yale and colleagues write.
It’s not all doom and gloom for nursing; Costa and colleagues point out that schools are graduating record-high numbers of nurses. It’s just that they either aren’t staying long due to burnout or are opting for the working conditions in non-hospital settings.
The authors argue that, for hospitals to compete for RNs across different sectors, they will need to improve the structural factors that contribute to job satisfaction, and that’s best achieved when workflows are designed collaboratively. For example, involving fewer bean counters (with all due respect) and more doctors in staffing can lead to a win-win for patients and RNs.
“Most health systems rely on a financial cost-containment model to inform staffing decisions. Clinicians understand the patient populations and needs over time, yet they are currently excluded from most staffing decisions,” the authors state.
Collaboration shouldn’t end with implementation, as Costa et al note that any major process changes co-created by nurses and physicians should also include an evaluation plan that measures both patient and staff outcomes. This data could then be used to improve structural approaches across the health system.
“Without different engagement strategies and partnerships, history will repeat itself as fiscal pressures resurface across U.S. health systems,” the authors write. “Hierarchies and power imbalances in healthcare contribute to historic inattention to nurse-led calls to action. Dismantling these imbalances requires collaboration across health professions so that all voices can be heard.”
Evan joined TriMed in 2011, writing primarily for Health Imaging. Prior to diving into medical journalism, Evan worked for the Nine Network of Public Media in St. Louis. He also has worked in public relations and education. Evan studied journalism at the University of Missouri, with an emphasis on broadcast media.