6053-MOD 1 DISCUSSION
euro1776
MODULE1DISCUSSIONPROMPT.docx
Review of Current Healthcare Issues
If you were to ask 10 people what they believe to be the most significant issue facing healthcare today, you might get 10 different answers. Escalating costs? Regulation? Technology disruption? Social Determinant such as environment/community, education, access/quality to healthcare?
These and many other topics are worthy of discussion. Not surprisingly, much has been said in the research, within the profession, and in the news about these topics. Whether they are issues of finance, quality, workload, or outcomes, there is no shortage of changes to be addressed.
In this Discussion, you examine a national healthcare issue and consider how that issue may impact your work setting. You also analyze how your organization has responded to this issue.
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
To Prepare:
· Review the Resources and select one current national healthcare issue/stressor to focus on.
· Reflect on the current national healthcare issue/stressor you selected and think about how this issue/stressor may be addressed in your work setting.
By Day 3 of Week 1
Post a description of the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected for analysis, and explain how the healthcare issue/stressor may impact your work setting. Which social determinant(s) most affects this health issue? Then, describe how your health system work setting has responded to the healthcare issue/stressor, including a description of what changes may have been implemented. Be specific and provide examples.
By Day 6 of Week 1
Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days who chose a different national healthcare issue/stressor than you selected. Explain how their chosen national healthcare issue/stressor may also impact your work setting and what (if anything) is being done to address the national healthcare issue/stressor.
Resources
Learning Resources
· Broome, M., & Marshall, E. S. (2021). Transformational leadership in nursing: From expert clinician to influential leader (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Springer.
· Chapter 2, “Transformational Leadership: Complexity, Change, and Strategic Planning” (pp. 34–62)
· Chapter 3, “Current Challenges in Complex Health Care Organizations and the Quadruple Aim” (pp. 66–97)
Read any TWO of the following (plus TWO additional readings on your selected issue):
· Amalberti, R., Vincent, C., Nicklin, W., & Braithwaite, J. (2019). Coping with more people with more illness Part 1: The nature of the challenge and the implications for safety and quality.Links to an external site. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 31(2), 154–158.
· Bangani, R. G., Menon, V., & Jovanov, E. (2021). Personalized stress monitoring AI system for healthcare workersLinks to an external site.. 2021 IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics and Biomedicine (BIBM), Bioinformatics and Biomedicine (BIBM), 2021 IEEE International Conference On, 2992–2997.
· Carter, M. W., & Busby, C. R. (2023). How can operational research make a real difference in healthcare? Challenges of implementationLinks to an external site.. European Journal of Operational Research, 306(3), 1059–1068.
· Dixon-Woods, M., McNicol, S., & Martin, G. (2012, October 1). Ten challenges in improving quality in healthcare: lessons from the Health Foundation’s programme evaluations and relevant literatureLinks to an external site.. BMJ Quality & Safety, 21(10), 876.
· Gjellebæk, C., Svensson, A., Bjørkquist, C., Fladeby, N., & Grundén, K. (2020). Management challenges for future digitalization of healthcare servicesLinks to an external site.. Futures, 124.
· Greco, E., Graziano, E. A., Stella, G. P., Mastrodascio, M., & Cedrone, F. (2022). The impact of leadership on perceived work-related stress in healthcare facilities organisationsLinks to an external site.. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 35(4/5), 734-748.
· Hale, K. (2021). Benefits and challenges of social media in health careLinks to an external site.. Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, 44(3), 309–315.
· Navaz, A. N., Serhani, M. A., El Kassabi, H. T., Al-Qirim, N., & Ismail, H. (2021). Trends, technologies, and key challenges in smart and connected healthcareLinks to an external site.. IEEE Access, Access, IEEE, 9, 74044–74067.
· Slonim, A. (2023). Top challenges facing healthcare: Back to basicsLinks to an external site.. Physician Leadership Journal, 10(2), 12–14. https://doi.org/10.55834/plj.2064149664
· Respond to the Assignment PromptLinks to an external site.
· Navigate OASIS ResourcesLinks to an external site.
· Paraphrase and Summarize InformationLinks to an external site.
· Locate, Cite, and Reference Journal ArticlesLinks to an external site.
· Organize and Develop ParagraphsLinks to an external site.
· Cite and Reference Learning ResourcesLinks to an external site.
· Walden University, LLC. (Producer). (2015). Leading in Healthcare Organizations of the Future [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Below are responses from 2 colleagues
May 30 11:48am| Last reply May 30 7:52pm
Reply from Mandy Johnson
Main Post
One national healthcare issue is the rising cost of healthcare. Due to these costs, patients, families, employees, employers, and healthcare providers are all impacted. I live in a rural part of Georgia and have seen the impact of rising costs firsthand. Broome and Marshall (2020) emphasize that many rural areas face unique challenges, including the declining ability of many rural hospitals to survive financially. Many years ago, I lost my first nursing job after the hospital closed due to a lack of financial sustainability, which was due to a large amount of uninsured and indigent care patients that left the burden of uncompensated care on the hospital. Keesee et al. (2024) explain that many rural residents have lower incomes and are more likely to be publicly insured or uninsured and struggle to pay out-of-pocket expenses, which leads to higher levels of uncompensated care that directly impacts hospital profitability, placing them at risk for closure, which is exactly what occurred in the hospital where I worked.
The two most significant social determinants of healthcare in rural communities that we often see are economic stability and access to healthcare. Again, rural populations tend to have lower incomes, increased rates of poverty, and higher rates of uninsured individuals (Javed, 2025). These disparities often lead to a decline in overall population health. We often see people who are not seeking primary care treatment for illnesses due to financial restraints. Instead, they are using emergency rooms for non-emergent conditions and relying on indigent care to help cover costs, which often places the burden on hospitals to pay for these services. Furthermore, many rural communities lack local hospitals; as a result, residents have extremely limited access to healthcare.
I currently work for the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), where our mission is to "prevent disease, injury and disability, to promote health and well-being, and to prepare for and respond to disasters" (Georgia DPH, n.d.). Obviously, working in the health department versus a hospital setting is extremely different; however, the common goal of improving our patients' health remains the same. Healthcare, through many of our programs, is much more affordable than other options, such as the hospital or primary care settings, and through a few of our programs, even free. We offer a sliding-scale payment based on the patient's income, making it affordable and tailored to each individual's unique needs. While the health department maintains a budget, we are also allocated funding through federal and state programs. Therefore, this allows us to focus on our mission and on improving overall population health.
References
Broome, M. E., & Marshall, E. S. (2020). Transformational Leadership in Nursing (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing LLC.
Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). (n.d.) Our Mission. https://dph.georgia.gov/Links to an external site.
Javed, A. (2025). Bridging the Health Care Gap in Rural Populations: Challenges, Innovations, and Solutions. The American Journal of Medicine. 138. 761-762. https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(25)00039-7/fulltextLinks to an external site.
Keesee, E., Gurzenda, S., Thompson, K., & Pink, G. H. (2024). Uncompensated Care is Highest for Rural Hospitals, Particularly in Non-Expansion States. Medical Care Research and Review, 81(2), 164–170. https://doi.org/10.1177/10775587231211366Links to an external site.
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KR
May 29 10:42am| Last reply May 30 3:32pm
Reply from Kimberly Crystal Ramlal
Main Post
A consequential national healthcare issue affecting healthcare organizations today is nurse burnout and workforce shortages. In the United States alone, healthcare systems continue to face increasing demands related to staffing shortages, rising patient acuity, escalating healthcare costs, and ongoing changes in healthcare technology and regulations. Nurse burnout has become especially concerning because it directly impacts patient safety, quality of care, employee retention, and organizational outcomes. According to Broome and Marshall (2021), healthcare leaders must address complex organizational challenges while supporting staff resilience and maintaining quality patient outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic further intensified stressors within healthcare organizations, leaving many nurses physically and emotionally exhausted.
In my healthcare work setting, nurse burnout and staffing shortages significantly impact workflow, patient care, and staff morale. Working in areas such as oncology, infusion, pediatrics, and medical-surgical nursing requires nurses to manage complex patient needs while balancing heavy workloads and emotional stress. Inadequate staffing often increases nurse-to-patient ratios, resulting in fatigue, decreased job satisfaction, and a higher risk for errors. Burnout may also contribute to absenteeism and turnover, placing additional strain on remaining staff members. Slonim (2023) emphasized that workforce shortages and employee well-being are among the greatest challenges facing healthcare organizations today because they affect operational efficiency and patient outcomes.
Several social determinants of health also contribute to this issue, particularly access to healthcare and socioeconomic status. Many communities experience limited access to primary and preventive healthcare services, leading patients to seek care only when illnesses become severe. As a result, hospitals and healthcare facilities experience overcrowding and increased demands on healthcare workers. Additionally, socioeconomic challenges such as poverty, inadequate insurance coverage, and limited transportation may delay treatment and worsen chronic conditions, increasing hospitalization rates and healthcare utilization. Amalberti et al. (2019) discussed how growing populations with more chronic illnesses place additional pressure on healthcare systems and healthcare professionals, ultimately affecting patient safety and quality of care.
My healthcare organization has responded to the issue of burnout and staffing shortages through several interventions designed to improve staff well-being and patient care outcomes. For example, leadership implemented employee wellness initiatives that include stress management resources, mental health support programs, and employee assistance services. Flexible scheduling and self-scheduling options were also introduced to help nurses achieve better work-life balance. In addition, the organization increased the use of interdisciplinary collaboration and team-based care to distribute workloads more effectively. Nurse leaders and managers have encouraged open communication through regular staff meetings and feedback sessions to identify workplace concerns and develop solutions collaboratively.
Technology has also been integrated to improve workflow efficiency and reduce documentation burdens. Electronic health record updates and streamlined charting systems were implemented to allow nurses to spend more time providing direct patient care. Furthermore, the organization has focused on recruitment and retention strategies such as tuition reimbursement, nurse residency programs, and professional development opportunities to strengthen workforce stability. Transformational leadership strategies have been particularly important in supporting staff engagement, promoting teamwork, and creating a positive work environment during periods of organizational change (Broome & Marshall, 2021).
Overall, nurse burnout and workforce shortages remain critical national healthcare issues that significantly affect healthcare organizations, staff, and patients. Addressing these challenges requires strong leadership, organizational support, and attention to the social determinants of health that influence patient outcomes and healthcare utilization. Healthcare organizations that invest in staff well-being, collaborative leadership, and supportive workplace environments are better positioned to improve both employee satisfaction and patient care quality.
References
Amalberti, R., Vincent, C., Nicklin, W., & Braithwaite, J. (2019). Coping with more people with more illness Part 1: The nature of the challenge and the implications for safety and quality. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 31(2), 154–158.
Broome, M., & Marshall, E. S. (2021). Transformational leadership in nursing: From expert clinician to influential leader (3rd ed.). Springer.
Slonim, A. (2023). Top challenges facing healthcare: Back to basics. Physician Leadership Journal, 10(2), 12–14. https://doi.org/10.55834/plj.2064149664Links to an external site.
