Did you know that the nursing shortage in the US is expected to increase as baby boomers age, with available nursing jobs rising over 40% by 2031? In addition, the number of RNs decreased by 100,000 from 2020 to 2021 during the pandemic.
Nurse staffing shortages cause many nurses to either retire or pursue another career. If you’re experiencing staffing shortages at your facility, your first step is to learn more about its impact and how you can address it.
In this guide, you’ll learn the true impact of nursing shortages and how to overcome staffing shortages at your healthcare organization.
Effects Current Nurses
First, the nursing shortage has a significant effect on other nurses. This is because when the nurse-patient ratios increase, it affects the ability of a nurse to do their job since their workload also increases.
When fewer nurses are on duty, nurses have to work extra to cover shifts. Ultimately this leads to burnout and high-stress levels. It also leads to nurses pursuing careers elsewhere.
Finally, nurses go on strike when this stress level becomes the norm at a healthcare facility, as they did in Minnesota. One of the main reasons for nursing strikes is having a high patient caseload.
Less Time for Patients
Less time with medical patients means the overall quality of patient care suffers. This takes a massive toll on patient satisfaction rates at healthcare facilities.
If patients feel they’re not receiving the basic care they need, they won’t recommend that facility to someone else. Even more, they’re much more likely to write a negative review.
In fact, studies show that satisfaction in hospitals declines when patients don’t feel enough nursing staff is available to provide care.
Additionally, with less time available, nurses don’t get the chance to collaborate as often with physicians about their patient’s care. As a result, important aspects of patient care won’t get discussed.
A staff shortage can then lead to increased hospital infections like surgical and urinary tract infections. They also lead to higher readmission rates.
Increase in Medication Errors
The nursing shortage also contributes to higher rates of medication errors. As the workload increases, nurses experience more stress. They also end up working more to cover staffing needs. This makes it easier for nurses to administer the wrong medication or dosage.
Nurses must be able to work in an environment that allows them the time to properly focus on essential tasks such as giving medications.
The best way to avoid medication errors is to hire a reputable staffing agency that can provide you with experienced nursing staff on short notice.
Get Expert Help for Your Nurse Staffing Shortages
If you have nurse staffing shortages in your medical practice or hospital, it’s best to take action immediately.
You can turn to Staff Genius for all your nurse staffing needs. We can provide staffing solutions for hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. Our onboarding process is quick, and we have a scheduling app making it easy to clock in and out for shifts.
We also provide long and short-term staffing across the United States. Make sure to contact us today for more information!
