Practicum Experiences Reflection
The problem I have identified in the practicum experience is a shortage of nurses. The shortage led to the implementation of 12-hour shifts which is still in the pilot stage. The approach is not working due to the risk of fatigue and burnout. For instance, due to the demotivation of the long shifts, several nurses are on medical leave. The intention is to spend time with the family and take a break from the long shifts. Shortage of nurses is occasioned by the high number of patients seeking healthcare services and failure of the management to employ more staff. The problem of nurses taking medical leaves is undermining the quality and continuity of care. Patients are dissatisfied by the failure of continuity of care. For instance, patients can hardly create rapport and trust with nurses since they keep shifting across different departments.
The selected analyze of the problem in the healthcare sector include Marc et al. (2019), Tyczkowski and Reilly (2017), and Ackerson and Stiles (2018). Marc et al. (2019) examine nursing shortage as a global problem in the healthcare sector. Marc et al. (2019) propose local policies as effective measures to deal with the crisis. Tyczkowski and Reilly (2017) suggest that the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) provides quality measures to deal with the shortage. Tyczkowski and Reilly (2017) recommend DNP leaders as effective avenues to address the rising challenges of shortage in the healthcare sector. Ackerson and Stiles (2018) recommend nurse residency programs as effective measures to improve the retention of nurses.
The observed event in the healthcare sector is that nurses are demotivated by healthcare facilities that do not address welfare issues. For instance, healthcare facilities should provide nursing mothers with opportunities to spend quality time with their families and babies. Work-from-home options are vital in nurse retention and boosting job satisfaction (Goodare, 2017). Some of the observed events is that nurses complain of burnout, fatigue, and injury. Others complain of stress due to the long hours of working (Goodare, 2017). The adverse effects undermine the quality of patient care since the work environment demotivates the nurses.
The facility started an eight-hour shift, but still, it did not work. The implementation of an eight-hour shift did not address the emerging issues. For instance, the high number of patients seeking quality care leads to stress and fatigue among healthcare workers (Goodare, 2017). Nurses are at risk of stressful working conditions since the number of patients is on the rise, especially during the pandemic.
The facility did not consider evidence-based practice during the implementation of the 8-hour shift. For instance, Ackerson and Stiles (2018) recommend nurse residency programs as effective measures to improve the retention of nurses. Tyczkowski and Reilly (2017) recommend DNP leaders as effective avenues to address the rising shortage challenges in the healthcare sector. The two recommendations are effective in addressing the nursing shortage in the healthcare sector. Introducing an 8-hour is not reliable since it still demotivates employees.
One of the best approaches to address the issue is introducing nurse residency programs. The nurse residency programs will inspire the nurses since they will expose them to more opportunities in their careers (Ackerson & Stiles, 2018). The approach is relevant to prevent the nurses from quitting or seeking better workplaces. Residency programs encourage nurses to pursue their career goals and advance their knowledge and experience (Ackerson & Stiles, 2018). Residency programs improve critical thinking and the capacity to integrate evidence-based practice in nursing care.
References
Ackerson, K., & Stiles, K. A. (2018). Value of nurse residency programs in retaining new graduate nurses and their potential effect on the nursing shortage. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 49(6), 282-288.
Goodare, P. (2017). Literature review: Why do we continue to lose our nurses?. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, The, 34(4), 50-56.
Jarrar, M. T., Rahman, H. A., Minai, M. S., AbuMadini, M. S., & Larbi, M. (2018). The function of patient‐centered care in mitigating the effect of nursing shortage on the outcomes of care. The International journal of health planning and management, 33(2), 464-473.
Marc, M., Bartosiewicz, A., Burzyńska, J., Chmiel, Z., & Januszewicz, P. (2019). A nursing shortage–a prospect of global and local policies. International Nursing Review, 66(1), 9-16.
Tyczkowski, B. L., & Reilly, J. (2017). DNP-prepared nurse leaders: Part of the solution to the growing faculty shortage. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 47(7/8), 359-360.
