Survey of St. Louis-area nurses shows staffing shortages, burnout, abuse by patients

KSDK News
31 Jul 202304:23
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe transcript highlights the nursing industry's challenges, including understaffing and workplace violence, leading to high turnover rates among nurses. It showcases initiatives like fast-track nursing programs at Missouri Baptist University, aiming to address the staffing crisis by condensing two years of education into less time. Despite the hardships, many nurses view their profession as a calling and are hopeful for change, with the state investing an additional $5 million to support nursing education and increase enrollment.

Takeaways
  • 🏥 The report highlights a severe nursing shortage, with high turnover rates and staffing crises in hospitals.
  • 📊 A survey conducted revealed that 77% of nurses considered leaving their job in the last year due to underpayment, inadequate staffing, and workplace violence.
  • 🤕 Nurses face significant risks, including physical violence, with reports of being attacked by patients.
  • 🚑 Patient care is compromised, with longer wait times and premature discharges due to the lack of nursing staff.
  • 📢 National Nurses United criticizes corporate executives for prioritizing profit over safe staffing levels, endangering nurses.
  • 🎓 Missouri Baptist University is addressing the nursing shortage by fast-tracking nursing education and expanding enrollment with state funding.
  • 👩‍⚕️ The passion for nursing remains strong among students, despite the industry's challenges.
  • 💰 The need for increased pay and improved working conditions for nurses is emphasized to sustain the profession.
  • 🛠 Solutions proposed include hiring more nurses to ensure adequate patient care and reduce nurse burnout.
  • 📝 The report, conducted by Paul of Assan and the investigative team, calls for public attention to the nursing crisis and seeks solutions.
Q & A

  • What is the main issue being addressed in the transcript?

    -The main issue addressed in the transcript is the nursing shortage and the challenges faced by nurses, including understaffing, low pay, workplace violence, and high turnover rates.

  • How does the fast track nursing program at Missouri Baptist University help address the nursing shortage?

    -The fast track nursing program at Missouri Baptist University helps address the nursing shortage by condensing two years of schooling into half that time, thereby speeding up the process of training new nurses.

  • What are some of the specific challenges mentioned in the transcript that nurses face?

    -Some specific challenges mentioned include being underpaid, inadequate staffing, workplace violence such as being attacked or having objects thrown at them, and high levels of stress leading to burnout.

  • What was the turnover rate among nurses in the hospitals surveyed?

    -The turnover rate among nurses in the hospitals surveyed was about 23% for the previous year.

  • How did the survey of 749 nurses in the area reveal the extent of the staffing crisis?

    -The survey revealed that 92% of the respondents felt their workplace was suffering from a staffing crisis, with many considering leaving their jobs due to underpayment, inadequate staffing, and workplace violence.

  • What measures is Missouri taking to increase the number of nurses?

    -Missouri has added an extra $5,000,000 into the state budget to help 81 nursing schools enroll more students, aiming to increase the number of nurses and address the staffing crisis.

  • What does the National Nurses United labor union argue is a problem in the nursing industry?

    -The National Nurses United labor union argues that corporate executives often prioritize profit over maintaining safe staffing levels, which puts nurses in danger.

  • What are the patients' experiences due to the nursing shortage?

    -Patients are experiencing longer wait times, medical complications, and some are even leaving the hospital before they should due to a lack of sufficient nursing staff to care for them.

  • What suggestions do nurses have for improving the profession and addressing the challenges they face?

    -Nurses suggest increasing pay, decreasing burnout and exhaustion rates, and improving staffing levels to make the profession more sustainable.

  • How can someone contribute information or tips to Paula and the I-team?

    -Individuals can contribute information or tips to Paula and the I-team by leaving a voicemail at 314-444-5231 or emailing paula.tips@kstk.com. All calls and correspondence will be kept confidential.

  • Where can one find the full results of the nurse survey mentioned in the transcript?

    -The full results of the nurse survey can be found posted with the story on kstk.com.

Outlines
00:00
🏥 Nursing Shortage and Solutions

The paragraph discusses the nursing shortage crisis, highlighting the experiences of fast-track nursing students at Missouri Baptist University and the challenges faced by nurses in the industry. It mentions the use of lifelike mannequins for training, the passion of students like Mackenzie Bisher, and the issues of inadequate staffing, workplace violence, and low pay. The segment also covers the efforts of lawmakers in Missouri to address the crisis by allocating additional funds to nursing schools and the perspectives of students on the necessary changes to make the profession sustainable.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Survey
A survey, as mentioned in the script, is a method of collecting data by asking a series of questions. In the context of the video, it is used to gather information from nurses about their experiences and challenges in the workplace. The survey results highlight the issues faced by nurses, such as underpayment, inadequate staffing, and workplace violence, which contribute to the high turnover rate in the nursing industry.
💡Fast Track Nursing
Fast Track Nursing is an educational program designed to expedite the nursing education process. It allows students to complete their nursing degree in a shorter period than the traditional route, typically by compressing two years of schooling into less time. The script mentions a fast track nursing class at Missouri Baptist University, indicating efforts to address the nursing shortage by accelerating the training of new nurses.
💡Nursing Shortage
Nursing shortage refers to the insufficient number of nurses to meet the demand for healthcare services. The video script highlights this issue by discussing the challenges nurses face, such as low pay, inadequate staffing, and workplace violence, which lead to high turnover rates and a persistent need for more nursing professionals.
💡Workplace Violence
Workplace violence in the context of the video refers to physical or verbal assaults against nurses while they are on duty. It is a significant issue in the nursing profession, contributing to a hostile work environment and high turnover rates. The script provides examples of nurses experiencing physical attacks, such as having urine thrown at them or being struck by patients.
💡Staffing Crisis
A staffing crisis in healthcare refers to a situation where there are not enough healthcare professionals, such as nurses, to provide adequate care for patients. The video script reveals that 92% of those surveyed believe their workplace is suffering from a staffing crisis, leading to longer wait times, medical complications, and patients leaving the hospital prematurely due to lack of care.
💡Burnout
Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. In the context of the video, nurse burnout is a critical issue that results from high workloads, inadequate staffing, and the emotional demands of the job. The script suggests that addressing burnout is essential for making the nursing profession sustainable.
💡Turnover Rate
The turnover rate is a measure of the rate at which employees leave a company or organization and need to be replaced. In the video, a high turnover rate among nurses is indicative of the challenges and dissatisfaction in the profession. The script reveals that the turnover rate was about 23% in the hospitals surveyed, which is a significant concern for the healthcare system.
💡National Nurses United
National Nurses United is the largest labor union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States. The union advocates for safe staffing levels, better working conditions, and the overall welfare of nurses. In the video, the union is mentioned as a voice that criticizes corporate executives for prioritizing profit over safe staffing, which endangers nurses.
💡Calling
A calling, in the context of the video, refers to a strong inner drive or passion for a particular career or profession. For the nurses and nursing students featured in the script, their work in healthcare is not just a job but a calling, indicating a deep commitment and sense of purpose in their roles as caregivers.
💡Legislation
Legislation refers to the process of making laws by a legislative authority. In the video, the mention of lawmakers adding an extra $5,000,000 into the state budget for nursing education indicates the government's legislative response to the nursing shortage. This funding is intended to support nursing schools and increase the number of enrolled students, addressing the staffing crisis in healthcare.
💡Industry Solutions
Industry solutions refer to strategies or measures implemented to address problems within a particular sector. In the video, the term relates to the proposed changes to improve the nursing profession and tackle the challenges faced by nurses. Suggestions include increasing pay, reducing burnout, and improving staffing levels to create a more sustainable work environment.
Highlights

A survey reveals the challenges and solutions within the nursing industry.

Fast track nursing classes at Missouri Baptist University condense two years of schooling into less time.

Nursing students train with lifelike mannequins that blink, breathe, and talk.

Nurse Mackenzie Bisher is driven by a personal history of caring for her grandparents.

The industry faces a staffing crisis with a nurse turnover rate of about 23%.

Nurses report underpayment, inadequate staffing, and workplace violence as their top concerns.

Instances of violence against nurses include urine being thrown and physical assaults.

92% of respondents say their workplace is suffering from a staffing crisis.

Patients are experiencing longer wait times and medical complications due to understaffing.

Nearly half of the nurses say patients are leaving the hospital prematurely due to lack of care.

Missouri has increased funding by $5,000,000 to help nursing schools enroll more students.

Missouri Baptist University built a nursing program from scratch to address the nursing shortage.

New nursing graduates hope to be part of the solution to the industry's challenges.

Increasing pay and decreasing burnout rates are suggested as ways to make the nursing profession more sustainable.

The full results of the survey can be found on kstk.com.

Paula, the reporter, invites tips and correspondence from the public regarding the nursing industry.

Transcripts

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Nursing CrisisFast-Track ProgramsUnderstaffingWorkplace ViolenceBurnoutMissouriHealthcare SurveyNurse StoriesPolicy ChangesEducational Innovation