Developing Organizational Policies and Practices

5

Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue

Name

Institution

Course

Tutor

Date

Description of the National Healthcare Issue/Stressor Chosen and How it Affects the Organization

The chosen issue is the nursing shortages, which affect the quality of medical services. Patient satisfaction and motivation of the nurses or patients are also important. The issue is anticipated to reach 12.9 million by 2035. If there is no permanent solution to the issue, it is expected to cause severe impacts on the general health of population worldwide (International Council of Nurses, 2023). Consequently, it would limit the achievement of the development objectives and undermine the long-term development objectives.

The Quadruple Aim is considered a model aimed at enhancing medical outcomes, satisfaction among clients, and enhancement to the well-being of the providers and drop in medical costs. Addressing the issue helps attain the Quadruple Aim since it enhances the well-being of the providers and satisfaction with the services offered. In the facility where I operate, the issue of long working hours and the presence of few nurses for each shift is resulting in increased burnout and high levels of stress among nurses (Arnetz et al., 2020). Burnout is considered a psychological syndrome resulting in a drop in the level of job satisfaction, a rise in absenteeism, and turnover rates. The facility is experiencing inadequate leadership, is exposed to unethical behaviors, and is experiencing a rise in the risk of patients. Therefore, it shows the necessity for a sufficient number of nurses to help ensure that patients are provided with the highest level of quality medical services and not compromising the safety of patients.

Summary of the two Articles Reviewed from the Outside Resources on the National Healthcare Issues/Stressors

Tamata et al. (2021) is a qualitative study utilized to collect data from 25 registered nurses in three randomly chosen healthcare facilities in Vanuatu in 4th to 14th September 2020. It involves the use of semi-structured open-ended questionnaires to help in the collection of data through the use of face-to-face, in-depth interviews. Data were transcribed and assessed using a thematic analysis process. The study reveals some factors affected by the shortages in the present nursing workforce and their effect on registered nurses. These factors included the moral distress from the workload, the lengthy shifts in hours that impact physical, psychological, social, and family relationships, and the absence of leadership support. These findings are essential to the policymakers at the decision-making level to aid the process of resolving the nursing workforce shortage and its impacts in the future by refining and developing relevant policies that will tackle and help strengthen the nursing workforce to meet the demands and enhance the delivery of quality medical services to all persons.

Alshahrani (2022) shows that medical facilities with the right number of nurses experience enhanced patient safety, reduced mortality rates, and overall patient outcomes. The lack of nurses is considered as a complex issue with various causes. These factors range from the aging population, fatigue caused by work overload, stressful work settings, low salaries, and dissatisfaction in the workplace. The combined factors lead to nursing shortages and its growth over time. The mental and physical pressure experienced by the nurses causes an increase in burnout and the rise in retraction of nurses from this profession.

Explanation of how the Healthcare Issue or Stressor is addressed in other Organizations

Based on the evidence generated from the two articles, the approach towards tackling the issue of nursing shortages is essential since it ensures quality healthcare services and an increased level of satisfaction from both providers and patients. Ensuring the right number of nurses is an intervention a few facilities adopt. It helps ensure that there is improved safety of the patients, a drop in the incidences of mortality, and improved patient outcomes. It also leads to the improved physical and emotional well-being of the nurses.

Summary of the Approaches Utilized in Addressing the Organizational Effect of National Healthcare Issues and How They Might Impact Positively or Negatively Impact on the Organization

Based on the recommendation provided by the second article, Alshahrani (2022), having the right number of nurses to offer healthcare services to the patients is crucial as it helps address all the factors exposing the facilities to nursing shortages. It helps address the emotional and physical fatigue caused by the work overload caused by the lack of nurses. The proposed solution is crucial for my facility as it ensures that quality healthcare services are realized since more nurses will be available once the solution is adopted. It will ensure that the safety of patients is improved and their satisfaction with the services offered is enhanced. Nevertheless, ensuring adverse effects on the facility characterizes the right number of patients. The employment of more nurses implies that the facility will have to incur more costs for the recruitment of the nurses to meet the requirements of the patients.

5

Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue

Name

Institution

Course

Tutor

Date

Description of the National Healthcare Issue/Stressor Chosen and How it Affects the Organization

The chosen issue is the nursing shortages, which affect the quality of medical services. Patient satisfaction and motivation of the nurses or patients are also important. The issue is anticipated to reach 12.9 million by 2035. If there is no permanent solution to the issue, it is expected to cause severe impacts on the general health of population worldwide (International Council of Nurses, 2023). Consequently, it would limit the achievement of the development objectives and undermine the long-term development objectives.

The Quadruple Aim is considered a model aimed at enhancing medical outcomes, satisfaction among clients, and enhancement to the well-being of the providers and drop in medical costs. Addressing the issue helps attain the Quadruple Aim since it enhances the well-being of the providers and satisfaction with the services offered. In the facility where I operate, the issue of long working hours and the presence of few nurses for each shift is resulting in increased burnout and high levels of stress among nurses (Arnetz et al., 2020). Burnout is considered a psychological syndrome resulting in a drop in the level of job satisfaction, a rise in absenteeism, and turnover rates. The facility is experiencing inadequate leadership, is exposed to unethical behaviors, and is experiencing a rise in the risk of patients. Therefore, it shows the necessity for a sufficient number of nurses to help ensure that patients are provided with the highest level of quality medical services and not compromising the safety of patients.

Summary of the two Articles Reviewed from the Outside Resources on the National Healthcare Issues/Stressors

Tamata et al. (2021) is a qualitative study utilized to collect data from 25 registered nurses in three randomly chosen healthcare facilities in Vanuatu in 4th to 14th September 2020. It involves the use of semi-structured open-ended questionnaires to help in the collection of data through the use of face-to-face, in-depth interviews. Data were transcribed and assessed using a thematic analysis process. The study reveals some factors affected by the shortages in the present nursing workforce and their effect on registered nurses. These factors included the moral distress from the workload, the lengthy shifts in hours that impact physical, psychological, social, and family relationships, and the absence of leadership support. These findings are essential to the policymakers at the decision-making level to aid the process of resolving the nursing workforce shortage and its impacts in the future by refining and developing relevant policies that will tackle and help strengthen the nursing workforce to meet the demands and enhance the delivery of quality medical services to all persons.

Alshahrani (2022) shows that medical facilities with the right number of nurses experience enhanced patient safety, reduced mortality rates, and overall patient outcomes. The lack of nurses is considered as a complex issue with various causes. These factors range from the aging population, fatigue caused by work overload, stressful work settings, low salaries, and dissatisfaction in the workplace. The combined factors lead to nursing shortages and its growth over time. The mental and physical pressure experienced by the nurses causes an increase in burnout and the rise in retraction of nurses from this profession.

Explanation of how the Healthcare Issue or Stressor is addressed in other Organizations

Based on the evidence generated from the two articles, the approach towards tackling the issue of nursing shortages is essential since it ensures quality healthcare services and an increased level of satisfaction from both providers and patients. Ensuring the right number of nurses is an intervention a few facilities adopt. It helps ensure that there is improved safety of the patients, a drop in the incidences of mortality, and improved patient outcomes. It also leads to the improved physical and emotional well-being of the nurses.

Summary of the Approaches Utilized in Addressing the Organizational Effect of National Healthcare Issues and How They Might Impact Positively or Negatively Impact on the Organization

Based on the recommendation provided by the second article, Alshahrani (2022), having the right number of nurses to offer healthcare services to the patients is crucial as it helps address all the factors exposing the facilities to nursing shortages. It helps address the emotional and physical fatigue caused by the work overload caused by the lack of nurses. The proposed solution is crucial for my facility as it ensures that quality healthcare services are realized since more nurses will be available once the solution is adopted. It will ensure that the safety of patients is improved and their satisfaction with the services offered is enhanced. Nevertheless, ensuring adverse effects on the facility characterizes the right number of patients. The employment of more nurses implies that the facility will have to incur more costs for the recruitment of the nurses to meet the requirements of the patients.