The nursing shortage is taking a toll on patients, according to a recent poll by nurse staffing platform Connectrn. In a survey last month of 1,000 nurses, 9 out of 10 nurses said they felt the quality of care is suffering due to staffing shortages and more than half said their patients have suffered because they have too much on their plates.
The poll is the latest in a string of surveys focusing on the impact of caregiver stress and burnout since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than half of the nurses who responded to the Connectrn survey said they have considered leaving the profession due to staff shortages, inadequate pay and a lack of respect for the work they perform.
The nurses also cited problems unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly a quarter claim they have witnessed discrimination based on race, sex and age and nearly one in five said they had observed harassment or mistreatment in the work place. More than one-third also reported not feeling supported by their employer.
In light of their dissatisfaction with working conditions, the nurses offered up solutions to make their jobs better. More than two-thirds suggested four-day weekends to counteract on-the-job stress, while nearly a third said flexible scheduling would make their work lives better. Nearly half said simply having time to eat lunch would help them perform better.
Demand for nurses is skyrocketing as aging baby boomers retire from the industry and a wave of aging Americans will require care in their homes and in facilities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the industry will need more than 250,000 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses by the end of the decade. A report released earlier this week by the Hospital & Healthcare Compensation Service found wages increased 5.57% and 9.57% respectively for home-based RNs and LPNs in the past year due to high demand.
