Abstract
Nurses in US hospitals are facing many issues, 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 discusses the potential outcomes of the research study, findings of the literature review studies, importance, implications of the study and the impact of study on the public health and policy making.
Introduction
In US, nurses are an important part of the health delivery system. The nurse practitioner involves as a senior member of any health care team. For this, nurse practitioners work in collaboration with other clinicians to provide the best care for patients or clients. They are facing issues regarding their work schedules, contributing to early retirement, causing shortage of experienced nurses in health care organizations. They feel overworked and stressed in their workplaces. This paper discusses the research study that would be done to evaluate the US nursing problems, its outcomes, literature review, and its importance.
Discussion
According to an estimate, the shortage of nurses in US will be 808,400 by 2020 (Mee & Robinson, 2003). This shortage is continuously increasing, as nurses are quitting their profession due to job dissatisfaction, which is adversely affecting the patients’ care. When nurses feel they have no control of their workplaces, they become unhappy, and want to leave (Chelminiak, Ditomassi, Erickson, & Holm, 2005). They desire to feel valued for their work and want flexible schedules; they want recognition and respect in their workplaces. Dissatisfaction can be detrimental to their health, making them sick ( Letvak, Ruhm & Lane, 2011). There is a need to improve the work environment that promotes a safe professional avenue.
Potential Outcomes of the Research
This research would evaluate the US nursing issues and the required actions to provide solution for these issues. It would evaluate the work expectations of nurses, work goals, and would provide the opportunity for nurses to engage in conversations with nursing leaders to discuss their issues, which would enhance their performance. This would also reduce turnover of nurses in health care settings. Recognizing their issues and supporting their development would increase their sense of being valued for their contributions to the health care organization. By this research, nurses would be able to manage work stress, and would learn to do teamwork; they would feel that they are well supported by their senior staffs. They would be able to cope with difficult challenges and exhausting schedules. This would lessen their quitting chances. This would eliminate the time spent on administrative activities, which would allow senior nurses to focus on patient care.
Key Findings of the Relevant Literature
McHugh and Kutney-Lee (2011) evaluated that job dissatisfaction in nurses causes labor disputes and risk to patients. They examined data of surveys of 95,499 nurses and found that job dissatisfaction was higher in nurses who were working in hospitals, as compared to nurses working in other settings. They suggested that improving nurses’ workplace environment can improve the quality of care for patients.
Spetz and Given (2003) analyzed the fact that low wages and job dissatisfaction are the main factors of RN shortage. They proposed that RN wages must rise to decrease the nurse shortages. They proposed that their salaries must increase 3.5 % per year to decrease RN shortage in US.
Trinkoff and Geiger-Brown (2006) stated that long duty hours cause musculoskeletal disorders in nurses. They have to do mandatory overtime. They surveyed 2,617 nurses. They examined the relationship of ill health with long duty hours in nurses.
Influence of Literature on the Development of Research Proposal
The literature review has provided valuable information about the recent issues of nurses in US hospitals. It focuses on the different surveys done to evaluate nursing issues. This has provided support in the development of research hypothesis. It provides data regarding facts and figures about US nursing problems and proposes a solution to solve these issues.
Limitations of Study
There are various limitations of the study, such as:
- This is a small research study, which needs further support by other researches.
- The senior nurses may not tell all the facts regarding their and their junior issues.
- Lack of interest of junior nurses in the study.
Implications of Research Proposal
This research is important, as it will evaluate the recent nursing issues of US hospitals. This research would help in providing the solution of these problems. The facts and findings of this study would be presented to higher nursing authorities and nursing associations, so that these issues can be discussed at local and state level.
Impact of Study on Public Health Practices and Policy Making
If the nursing issues would be solved, it would influence patient care. Nurses would be happy and satisfied from their jobs, which in turn would improve quality of care. The results of this study would be presented to higher nursing authorities, so that these authorities would consider these issues before making any policy regarding nurses, such as their wages and work schedules.
The Importance of the Study
The study it important, as it tells about the nurses’ attitudes, senior nurses’ attitudes, their work schedules, their wages, and their job difficulties. This is important for proposing the solution to their problems.
Conclusion
The study it important, it would provide valuable information about the recent issues of nurses in US hospitals and would help in proposing a solution to solve these issues
References
Chelminiak, L., Ditomassi, M., Erickson, J. & Holm, L.(2005) Issues in nursing: Why not nursing. Nursing, 35(7), 46 – 49
Letvak, S. Ruhm, C. & Lane, S. (2011) The impact of nurses' health on productivity and quality of care. Journal of Nursing Administration, 41 (4), 162-167.
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.
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
