A massive trend in nursing today that we are all, unfortunately,
seeing and dealing with the consequences of is the nursing shortage.
It is identified that due to the nurse shortage, there have been many
negative impacts to not only RNs but also on patient outcomes,
resulting in increased workload and stress (Tamata, et. al., 2021). Due
to the rising need for nurses, as well as the current shortage, there
are many financial implications present. These can relate to increased
spending necessary to obtain adequate nurses or increased salaries
to promote nurses to stay. According to one study, some nurses
identified that inadequate payment for overtime and lack of
incentives has resulted in a loss of employees (Tamata, et. al., 2021).
To improve this problem, hospitals will require increasing their
incentive rates as well as ensure adequate payment is given for these
extra hours.
A second financial implication is that having a reduced level of nurses
has been shown to promote longer hospitalization for patients due to
lacking quality of care. A study done by Laseter et al (2021) identified
this problem and researched its financial implications for hospitals.
From a financial perspective, a reduction of the associated costs with
increased days spent in the hospital relating to the reduced number
of nurses could save hospitals $117 million annually (Lasater, et. al.,
2021). By improving staff levels, significant money could be saved
and used toward the hiring of more nurses, which would benefit
hospitals long-term.
A third financial implication of reduced nurse staffing relates to
patient mortality rates. Laseter's study also indicated that with
appropriate staffing levels based on the unit's needs, adverse events
to patients can be reduced (Lasater, et. al., 2021). Adverse events are
related to a significant portion of hospital expenses. By improving
nurse staffing, these events can be reduced, therefore saving not
only patients but saving expenses to the hospital long term.
References
Lasater, K. B., Aiken, L. H., Sloane, D., French, R., Martin, B.,
Alexander, M., & McHugh, M. D. (2021). Patient outcomes and cost
savings associated with hospital safe nurse staffing legislation: an
observational study. BMJ Open, 11(12),
e052899. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052899
Tamata, A. T., Mohammadnezhad, M., & Tamani, L. (2021).
Registered nurses' perceptions on the factors affecting nursing
shortage in the Republic of Vanuatu Hospitals: A qualitative
study. PloS one, 16(5),
e0251890. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251890
