Solutions to the nursing shortage

23 ABC News | KERO
28 Feb 202303:18
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe transcript highlights the critical need for nurses in the healthcare system, emphasizing their undervalued role despite evidence linking higher nurse staffing with improved patient outcomes. The nursing shortage predates COVID-19, with many hospitals already facing high vacancy rates. Nurses often bear the brunt of cost-cutting measures, leading to furloughs and layoffs. The government's potential role in addressing this issue through funding and support is discussed, as well as innovative solutions like an Uber-style app for nurse shifts, aiming to provide more flexibility and better compensation. The importance of investing in technology for nurses is also underscored, as the aging population and healthcare challenges make the retention and support of nurses more crucial than ever.

Takeaways
  • 🏥 The societal perception of nurses as a cost rather than a revenue-generating asset in hospitals contributes to the nursing shortage.
  • 💰 Nurses cannot bill for their services like physicians, leading to their undervaluation in the healthcare financial model.
  • 📈 Despite evidence linking higher nurse staffing levels to better patient outcomes, nurses are often let go during hospital cost-cutting measures.
  • 📊 Pre-pandemic, 1 in 10 hospitals reported high vacancy rates among nurses, which increased to 3 in 5 during the pandemic.
  • 🤝 Nurses frequently cover additional shifts and work beyond their typical hours, indicating a high demand and strain on the existing workforce.
  • 💬 Nurses express a desire for more support and higher pay, especially during times of increased need.
  • 🏛️ Government intervention, such as additional funding for hospitals and nursing education, could significantly address the nursing shortage.
  • 🚫 Despite a high number of qualified applicants, nursing schools are unable to accommodate them due to a lack of faculty.
  • 📱 Innovative solutions like Uber-style apps for nurse shifts are emerging to offer more flexible work options for nurses.
  • 💡 Investment in technology to improve nursing workflows and support is identified as an area needing attention.
  • 👴👵 The aging population and increasing demand for healthcare services exacerbate the need for a robust nursing workforce.
Q & A

  • Why is there a growing need for nurses in society?

    -The growing need for nurses is due to various factors, including an aging population, the strain on healthcare systems due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the existing shortage of nurses even before the pandemic began.

  • How does the current healthcare payment system view nurses compared to physicians?

    -In the current healthcare payment system, nurses are often viewed more as a cost rather than revenue generators. Unlike physicians, who can bill for their services directly to insurance, nurses cannot bill for their services, leading to a perception of them as part of the overhead costs.

  • What does Sarah Zantin believe is a key issue in the nursing workforce?

    -Sarah Zantin, the dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, believes that the way society pays for nurses is a key issue. She points out that nurses are not able to bill for their services like physicians, which contributes to the perception of them as a cost rather than as providers of valuable care.

  • What evidence supports the claim that more nurses on staff lead to better patient outcomes?

    -Numerous studies have found a correlation between increased nurse staffing levels and improved patient outcomes. However, these studies often face limitations such as being cross-sectional, which makes it difficult to establish a direct causal relationship between staffing levels and outcomes.

  • What is the current estimated shortage of nurses in the United States?

    -The United States is facing an estimated shortage of more than 200,000 nurses, a problem that was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic but was present beforehand.

  • How has the nursing shortage affected hospital staffing and nurse workload?

    -The nursing shortage has led to high vacancy rates in hospitals, with some nurses being asked to cover additional shifts and work beyond their typical hours. This increased workload can lead to burnout and further exacerbate the staffing issues.

  • What does Rebecca Love suggest as a solution to the nursing shortage?

    -Rebecca Love, the chief clinical officer at Intellicare, suggests that investing in technology to make life more flexible for nurses, such as an Uber-style app for shifts, could help address the nursing shortage. She also highlights the need for more support and higher wages for nurses.

  • How does the government's role in funding affect nursing education and the nursing workforce?

    -The government can make a significant difference by providing extra funding to hospitals and nursing schools. This includes scholarships and support for nursing faculty, which would allow more qualified applicants to be accepted into nursing programs and ultimately increase the number of nurses in the workforce.

  • What is the impact of the nursing shortage on the healthcare system?

    -The nursing shortage has a profound impact on the healthcare system. Nurses are central to patient care, and without enough nurses, hospitals may have to close, healthcare services may become less accessible, and the overall quality of care may decline.

  • What does the future hold for the nursing profession and the healthcare system?

    -The future of the nursing profession and healthcare system will likely involve an increased focus on addressing the nursing shortage, investing in technology and resources to support nurses, and finding ways to make the profession more attractive and sustainable for those entering the field.

Outlines
00:00
🏥 The Nursing Crisis and Healthcare System

This paragraph discusses the critical need for nurses in the current healthcare landscape, highlighting the societal and systemic issues that contribute to the nursing shortage. It emphasizes the undervaluation of nursing services in hospital cost structures and the resulting impact on patient outcomes. The paragraph also touches on the pre-existing nursing vacancy rates and the exacerbation of the shortage due to COVID-19. It mentions the government's potential role in addressing the issue through funding and education, as well as innovative solutions like an Uber-style app for nurse shifts to improve working conditions and retention.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Nurses
Nurses are healthcare professionals who provide care and support to patients. In the context of the video, they are essential to the functioning of hospitals but are often undervalued, seen more as a cost than a revenue-generating resource. The video highlights the need for more nurses due to their critical role in patient outcomes and the healthcare system as a whole.
💡Healthcare System
The healthcare system refers to the organization and management of healthcare services, including hospitals, clinics, and other medical facilities. The video discusses the challenges within the U.S. healthcare system, particularly the underfunding and understaffing of nursing positions, which leads to negative impacts on patient care and hospital operations.
💡Revenue
Revenue is the income that a business, including hospitals, receives from its operations. In the video, it is noted that doctors generate revenue by ordering services that can be billed to insurance, whereas nurses, despite their critical role, do not have the same billing capabilities and are thus seen as a cost rather than a revenue source.
💡Nursing Shortage
A nursing shortage refers to a situation where there is an insufficient number of nurses to meet the demand for healthcare services. The video emphasizes that the U.S. is facing an estimated shortage of over 200,000 nurses, which predates the COVID-19 pandemic and has been exacerbated by it. This shortage impacts patient care and the overall healthcare system.
💡Furloughed
Furloughed refers to employees being temporarily laid off from their jobs, usually due to economic conditions or company cutbacks. In the video, nurses are often furloughed or let go when hospitals need to cut costs, contributing to the nursing shortage and negatively affecting patient care.
💡Government Funding
Government funding refers to the financial support provided by the state to various sectors, including healthcare. The video suggests that increased government funding for hospitals, scholarships, and nursing education could help alleviate the nursing shortage by enabling more individuals to pursue nursing careers and by supporting existing nurses.
💡Nursing Schools
Nursing schools are educational institutions that provide the necessary training and education for individuals to become nurses. The video highlights the challenge that nursing schools face due to a lack of faculty, leading to the rejection of approximately 90,000 well-qualified applications for nursing programs across the country.
💡Technology
Technology in healthcare refers to the use of advanced tools, devices, and systems to improve patient care and medical outcomes. The video points out the discrepancy in investment, where billions are spent on technologies to assist surgeons but not enough on technologies that could make nurses' work more efficient and effective.
💡Travel Nurses
Travel nurses are professionals who work on a temporary or contract basis in different healthcare facilities, often in locations experiencing nurse shortages. The video mentions the trend of more nurses getting paid to travel and work part-time at higher rates, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
💡Healthcare Challenges
Healthcare challenges encompass a range of issues affecting the delivery and quality of healthcare services. The video discusses several challenges, including hospital closures, doctors leaving practice, and the overall teetering of healthcare, with nurses being at the center of these issues.
💡Population Aging
Population aging refers to the increase in the proportion of older individuals in a population. The video mentions that the population over 65 will grow significantly in the coming years, which will lead to an increased demand for healthcare services, including nursing care.
Highlights

Society's payment structure for nurses is flawed, viewing them more as a cost than a revenue-generating asset.

Nurses cannot bill for their services like physicians, leading to their undervaluation in hospital budgets.

Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Dean, Sarah Zantin, emphasizes the value nurses add despite being categorized as a cost.

Studies show that higher nurse staffing levels lead to better patient outcomes, yet nurses are often let go during cost-cutting measures.

The United States is facing a nursing shortage of over 200,000 nurses, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before COVID-19, one in ten hospitals reported high vacancy rates among nurses, which increased to three in five last year.

Nurses are frequently asked to cover additional shifts and work beyond their typical hours.

Nurses express a desire for more support and higher pay, especially during times of increased need.

Government intervention, such as funding hospitals and supporting nursing education, could significantly alleviate the nursing shortage.

Nursing schools are turning away qualified applicants due to a lack of faculty, highlighting the need for investment in nursing education.

IntelliCare and other companies are exploring technology solutions, like an Uber-style app, to offer nurses more flexible work options.

Investment in technology aimed at improving nurse efficiency and satisfaction is currently lacking compared to that for other medical professionals.

The aging population and increased demand for healthcare make the need for nurses even more critical.

Hospitals and healthcare systems are at risk of collapse without a sufficient nursing workforce.

The healthcare system's reliance on nurses is evident, yet they are often overlooked in discussions about healthcare reform and investment.

Transcripts

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Nursing ShortageHealthcare EconomicsValue of NursesJohns HopkinsSarah ZantinRebecca LoveIntellicareTechnology InvestmentPandemic ImpactWorkforce Flexibility