Nurses are amongst the most irreplaceable officials in the medical sector. They are not only some of the most experienced personnel on the floor, but their dedication is nearly unmatched. Unfortunately, thousands of healthcare organizations worldwide are suffering staffing related issues when it comes to nursing. Perhaps the recent pandemic played a role in limiting the number of nurses who wanted to enter or stay in the field. Even though it is one of the most important and sought-after disciplines, it also happens to be one of the most challenging career choices.
Nurses have some of the most stressful and demanding jobs not only in the healthcare industry but throughout career options. Continually being on their toes and roaming the halls and wards tending to the sick and injured is a tootiring task. Not only does it require a great deal of physical endurance and stamina, but a considerable amount of empathy and dedication to helping patients in their recovery process. In many instances, we expect nurses to fulfill duties considering their socially acceptable picture despite acknowledging that they often struggle with their job.
We often compromise healthcare quality by ignoring the fundamental factors that lead to unpleasant healthcare outcomes. Here are some of the critical factors which affect the quality of nursing.
· Lack of Quality Education/ Training
One of the most recurring issues which nurses face is that they feel ill-equipped to deal with specific medical situations that may present themselves. Lack of training with the introduction of new technologies might be one definite reason.Many hospitals fail to provide the latest technologies’ real-life practice, which leaves nurses unprepared for the recurring challenges.
Lack of ethical knowledge is another common factor, especially for ER nurses. Freak cases are prevalent in society. Knowing how to deal with them is one of the critical responsibilities of a nurse. A graduate degree in emergency nursing might help to tackle a diverse range of cases that you would come across in the emergency room. Having the theoretical knowledge, experience, and capabilities to tackle whatever comes your way in the ER is crucial in nursing quality. Since the current institutions practice simulation-based learning, it is imperative to go for options that can prepare you the best.
· Burnout
A significant issue that nurses have to deal with globally is exhaustion. Working in long shifts that require the utmost endurance and focus can be daunting. However, that is just the average day for a nurse in a hospital. With the medical sector seeing a shortage of nurses during the pandemic, existing medical workers had to pull longer shifts and reduce their days off to tend to all those coming in with the Coronavirus.
The past year was incredibly stressful for nurses in the healthcare sector. They would spend considerably more time in the hospitals than at home with their families. As you can imagine, this would have led to a considerable amount of exhaustion, which would have adversely affected their performance on the job.
· Availability of Medical, Technological, and Human Resources
Nurses need to have specific resources at their disposal to provide quality nursing services to the patients. A semi-functional hospital without equipment and essential medical paraphernalia will only impede the healing process and restrict the nurses and doctors from giving life-saving treatment. Even a shortage and understaffed medical facility can take its toll on a nurse’s quality of treatment.
If a nurse does not have supporting staff with them, the chances are that they won’t perform their job to the fullest. Both medical and technological resources are necessary for a nurse to provide the best quality healthcare service. However, supporting staff is of paramount importance for a nurse. A lone nurse is likely to fumble, suffer exhaustion, and not fulfill the patients’ needs.
· Nature and Need of the Patient
Different patients seeking medical attention will most likely receive extra healthcare services. For example, a medical patient in the ER will receive a different kind of treatment and attention than someone treated in a hospice facility. The style, context, and requirements of the case result in developing a nursing strategy that best suits the specific situation.
Hospitals generally hire nurses that are diverse with their experience and skills. Also, to ensure healthcare quality, different roles are introduced within the discipline. For instance, home health case manager job description and an RN in a hospital will differ significantly. Because their focus of attention is different, the nursing quality will also likely vary between the nursing discipline’s career choices.
Conclusion
Drawing on the strengths and reducing the weaknesses which could affect the nursing quality is of utmost importance in the healthcare industry. The article provides a clear picture of the areas the healthcare industry needs to work on to ensure individual wellbeing. Moreover, while understanding the efforts, it also gives us a newfound respect for these professionals who help save lives everyday.
We have talked about some of the nursing field’s major themes and some of the potential hurdles that the staff face in their everyday life. A general understanding of these factors, their role in the healthcare system, and their effects on patients’ health are crucial. Hence, understanding the issues, addressing them, and tackling them swiftly to make room for practical nursing is imperative.
