Abstract
Nurses play an important role in providing quality care in US hospitals. These nurses face many issues during their career, such as long duty hours, low salaries, difficulties in finding a job, etc. We have proposed a research proposal to evaluate US nursing problems. This paper summarizes the research proposal and tells its importance.
Introduction
A nurse’s role includes maintenance and promotion of health of patients and prevention of diseases of patients with mental or physical illness, disabilities or rehabilitation requirements, alleviating pain, and suffering (Middleton, Allnutt, Griffiths, McMaster, O'Connell, Hillege, 2007).A nurse assesses and implements nursing care in collaboration with the multidisciplinary health team to get desired goals and desired health outcomes. A nurse provides care in settings, such as acute care, homes, residential care, community, and educational institutions. A nurse provides a leadership role in the provision of health care across different health care contexts to provide maximum health outcomes(Bryant-Lukosius& DiCenso, 2004). Nurses provide services to wide variety of clients, therefore, their responsibilities are also increased; due to this increase in responsibilities, their problems are also increased (Mee& Robinson, 2003).This paper discusses the research proposal that would be done to evaluate problems of nurses in US and to propose the solutions for those problems.
Discussion
Purpose of the Research
This research project would analyze the issues related to US nursing and would propose the solutions for those problems.
Key Findings of the Literature Review
Literature shows that US nurses are facing many issues; McHugh and Kutney-Lee (2011) stated that job dissatisfaction is the major problem in nurses, which causes risk to patients, and they suggested that improving hospital environment can decreasethe nurses’ problems. According to Spetz and Given (2003), low wagesand job dissatisfaction are the main issues for nurses, and the RN wages must rise to decrease the nurse shortages. Trinkoff and Geiger-Brown (2006) stated that nurses have to do mandatory overtime,and long duty hours cause health issues in nurses.
Implications and Aims of Research
This researchisimportant for nurses, asthiswillevaluate the nursing issues. Its findings would support in proposing the solution for these problems. It would be presented to higher nursing authorities, so that the issues of nurses can be solved.
Limitations of Study
There are various limitations of the study, such as:
This is a small research study, which involves only 30-50 nurses. It should be extended to involve more nurses and different health care settings. The senior nurses or junior issues may notcooperate in conducting study.
Benefits and Potential Outcomes of the Research
This research study would evaluate the US nursing problems and would help in evaluating the facts related to these problems. The research would be beneficial and its potential outcomes are:
- This research would evaluate the US nursing issues
- It would help in proposing solution for these issues
- It would evaluate the work expectations of nurses, and would convey the voice of nurses to nursing leaders and nursing authorities.
- Recognizing their issues would reduce turnover of nurses
- The nurses would feel that they are valued for their contributions
- By this research, nurses would feel that they are supported by their seniors.
- By providing solution to their problems, they would be able to cope with exhausting schedules andit would decrease their quitting chances.
Study Design
To find out the issues of US nurses, we would do a survey of three or more hospitals and would interview the duty nurses about their issues, workplace environment, their schedules, their wages, etc.
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
The survey would involve nurses of ages around 25-50. These nurses would belong to hospital wards, ER or OR. The survey would include males and females and would exclude the nurses working in long-term care homes.
Sample Size and Population
We would like to interview at least 30-40 nurses
Data Collection
Interviews would be conducted from the nurses and would be recorded. Several questions would be asked regarding their work issues, workplace environment, schedules, wages, etc. The data would be interpreted and analyzed.
Data Analysis
Tools That would be used for Processing the Data
Data would be processed by using SPSS software.
Descriptive Statistics
The nurses who would be involved in this research would be 25-50 years old. These nurses would belong to different hospitals.
Analytical Statistics
The answers of the surveys would be analyzed by specialized statistical tools. Nurses would be interviewed and would be categorized on the basis of their issues into groups, such as nurses having issues related to:
- Long duty hours
- Low salaries
- Work environment and
- Job search
Variables of Study
Staff Attitude
The outcomes of any study depend on the interest of participants. If the staff would take greater interest, the results would be better.
Senior Management Participation
Theparticipationof senior management can make a big difference in the results.
Ages of Nurses
Age of nurses is a major factor that would affect the results, as junior nurses face issues when they search theirfirst job;they have low wages. The senior nurses face management issues as well as health issues.
Workplaces of Staff
The workplaces such as emergency department or OR, have tough work schedules and demand hard work from nurses. The nurses working in these workplaces have to facemore issues as compared to others
Reliability and Validity of Data
The data collected from the actual interviews of nurses would be valid. There are low chances of error, as we would transcribe the recorded interviews of these nurses to maintain the validity of data. This study can be repeated in other health care settings.
Organization and Presentation of Data and Results
The results would be presented in the form of written document, posters, and PowerPoint presentations.
Impact of Study on Public Health Practices and Policy Making
Ifthenursing issues wouldbeevaluated and solved,itwouldimprovequalityofcare in health care settings. This would convey the voice of nurses to higher nursingauthorities, so that their issues would be considered before policy making, regarding work schedules and wages.
Importance of Research Proposal
This research proposal should be considered as this would be helpful in evaluating the issues of nurses, which would be presented to higher nursing authorities. This would improve their working conditions, job satisfactions and would affect the quality of care in US hospitals.
Conclusion
The trained and skilled nurses are decreasing due to difficulties they have to face during their jobs. In US, nurses have to face many issues, such as increased workload due to shortage of nurses in the country. They have to do long overtime hours, which are mandatory, causing health issues in these nurses. Most of them are dissatisfied from their jobs, which is increasing frustration and affecting the quality of patient care. These issues cause nurses to leave their profession, causing nurse shortages. These issues can be solved by making proper strategies for their recruitment and retention, wages, and their work schedules. Our research proposal would evaluate the US nursing issues and would help in proposing the solution for these issues.
References
Bryant-Lukosius, D. & DiCenso, A. (2004) A framework for the introduction and evaluation of advanced practice nursing roles. Journal of Advanced Practice Nursing, 48(5), 530–40.
Clarke, S. P. &Cheung, R. B. (2008) The nurse shortage: Where we stand and where we're headed Nursing Management.Nursing Management, 39 (3), 22 – 27.
McHugh, M. &Kutney-Lee, A. (2011) Nurses’ widespread job dissatisfaction, burnout, and frustration with health benefits signal problems for patient care. Health Affairs, 30(2), 202-210.
Mee, C. L. & Robinson, E. (2003) What’s different about this nursing shortage? Nursing, 33 (1), 51-55.
Middleton, S., Allnutt, J., Griffiths, R., McMaster, R., O'Connell, J., Hillege S. (2007)
Nurse practitioners. Int J Nurs Pract. 13(6), 331-40.
Spetz, J & Given, R. (2003) The future of the nurse shortage: Will wage increases close the gap? Health Affairs, 22 (6), 199-206.
Trinkoff, A. & Geiger-Brown, J. (2006) Longitudinal relationship of work hours, mandatory overtime, and on-call to musculoskeletal problems in nurses. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 49(11), 964–971
