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Addressing the Nursing Shortage: Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Healthcare

Professionals

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Addressing the Nursing Shortage

For the government to address the healthcare professional shortage, strategies can be

considered to make nursing more appealing. Promote nursing through marketing and education

to attract more young people to the profession (Marć et al., 2019). Showcasing nurse resilience

during the pandemic can enhance the professional appeal. Financial incentives like salaries, loan

forgiveness, and scholarships can make nursing more appealing amid the pandemic's economic

impact.

New staffing methods can be tried for hospitals to keep nurses and serve patients.

Redistribute tasks and use technology to enable nurses to focus on patient care. Optimizing nurse

staffing and workload can stretch nurses without sacrificing care. Supportive work environments,

growth opportunities, mentorship programs, and work-life balance initiatives boost nurse

retention (Marć et al., 2019).

We must consider if eliminating non-nursing tasks will increase nurse staffing and

alleviate the shortage. We can optimize nurse staffing and prioritize patient care by reallocating

tasks and utilizing technology. It can improve efficiency, decrease workload, and prevent nurse

burnout (Marć et al., 2019). To implement changes, evaluate staffing and workflow thoroughly.

Identify non-nursing tasks that can be delegated to other healthcare team members. By

redistributing duties, nurses can focus on nursing duties. Using technology can streamline tasks

and reduce nurses' workload. EHRs, computerized orders, and scheduling systems reduce nurse

paperwork and coordination time (Norful et al., 2018). Tech advancements allow nurses to focus

on patient care and decision-making. Delegating tasks must balance patient safety and non-

nursing duties. Training, communication, and guidelines are crucial for smooth transitions and a

collaborative healthcare team.

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The practice of nurses punching a time clock can be reevaluated to align with the

professional status of nursing. The transition towards a system prioritizing trust, accountability,

and outcomes over stringent clock-in and clock-out schedules can acknowledge nurses as

professionals and enable them to exercise their professional discretion. Other strategies include

mentorship and career development for new nurses. We can also improve nursing's public image

through awareness campaigns and showcasing their diverse roles and impact. Improving nurse-

patient ratios, staffing, and workload management can help to address burnout concerns (Shadadi

et al., 2018). Another consideration could be partnering with educational institutions and

healthcare organizations to provide nursing students with a smooth education-to-practice

transition and practical experience. It is also essential to Invest in nursing specialization and

ongoing professional development.

In conclusion, a diverse strategy of recruitment, retention, recognition, and supportive

work environments is essential to attract and keep nursing professionals. In the post-COVID era,

reevaluating their duties can also enhance healthcare efficiency. By delegating tasks and using

technology, nurses can focus on nursing responsibilities, improving patient care, and dealing

with staff shortages.

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References

Kirk, M. (2015). Reviewing education challenges and solutions for health professionals in

community care. British Journal of Community Nursing, 20(10), 504–510.

https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2015.20.10.504

Norful, A. A., de Jacq, K., Carlino, R., & Poghosyan, L. (2018). Nurse practitioner–physician

Comanagement: A theoretical model to alleviate primary care strain. The Annals of Family

Medicine, 16(3), 250–256. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.2230

Shadadi, H., Sheyback, M., Balouchi, A., & Shoorvazi, M. (2018). The barriers of clinical

education in nursing: A systematic review. Biomedical Research, 29(19).

https://doi.org/10.4066/biomedicalresearch.29-18-1064

Marć, 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.