NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2

NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2

Student Name

Capella University

NURS-FPX4000 Developing a Nursing Perspective

Prof. Name:

Date

Applying Research Skills

The global shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly in the United States, is a critical issue that has significant implications for patient care and healthcare costs. This crisis has been exacerbated by high turnover rates among nurses, leading to increased workloads and burnout among existing staff. The nursing workforce is projected to decline by approximately 7.61 million by 2030, with the current turnover rate in the U.S. at 26.9% (Ren et al., 2024). This decline poses a serious risk to patient safety, as studies have shown that inadequate nurse staffing can increase patient mortality rates by 2.1% to 3.2% (Griffiths et al., 2023). Given the urgency of this issue, it is essential to explore potential solutions to address the workforce crisis and improve healthcare delivery. This paper presents an annotated bibliography to examine the healthcare workforce shortage, particularly its impact on the nursing profession.

Personal Interest and Professional Experience

The workforce shortage is both a personal and professional concern due to its profound impact on healthcare providers and patient care quality. Staff shortages place immense pressure on existing personnel, resulting in stress, burnout, and job dissatisfaction. From my professional experience in healthcare, I have directly encountered the challenges of working in understaffed medical settings. Nurses and doctors often struggle to manage excessive patient loads, leading to physical exhaustion and increased stress. These conditions not only impact healthcare providers’ well-being but also reduce the overall efficiency of healthcare delivery. Addressing workforce shortages is crucial to ensuring the sustainability of the healthcare system and maintaining high standards of patient care. The urgent need for effective workforce management strategies is evident in both research and real-world experiences.

Research and Selection Process

The research process for this study involved an extensive review of literature focusing on healthcare workforce shortages, particularly in nursing. Databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, and ProQuest were used to source relevant peer-reviewed articles. The search strategy included specific keywords such as “healthcare workforce shortage,” “nurse and physician shortage,” and “solutions to healthcare staffing crisis.” Boolean operators like “AND” and “OR” were utilized to refine search results and ensure the inclusion of the most relevant studies. Additional search terms such as “staffing shortage and patient safety,” “nurse shortage and burnout,” and “staff retention and care quality” helped narrow the focus. To ensure the credibility and timeliness of the findings, filters were applied to prioritize articles published within the last five years. As a result, three peer-reviewed articles were selected, each addressing workforce shortages and potential strategies to mitigate their impact.

Assessing the Credibility and Relevance of Sources

To ensure the reliability of the selected sources, the CRAAP test was applied, evaluating Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose (Muis et al., 2022). Currency was assessed by prioritizing articles published within the last five years to ensure access to the most recent data. Relevance was determined by assessing how well each article addressed the issue of workforce shortages and its implications for healthcare. Authority was verified by examining the credentials of the authors and the credibility of the journals in which the studies were published. Accuracy was ensured by selecting evidence-based research supported by reliable sources. Finally, Purpose was analyzed to confirm that the studies aimed to inform, analyze, or propose solutions to the workforce crisis rather than presenting biased or opinion-based information. By applying these criteria, only the most reliable and relevant sources were included in the research process.

NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2

References

Alshahrani, S. H. (2022). Reasons, consequences, and suggested solutions for nursing workforce shortage: A review of literature. International Journal of Health Sciences, 6(S5), 1557–1568. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6nS5.9004

Griffiths, P., Saville, C., Ball, J., Dall’Ora, C., Meredith, P., Turner, L., & Jones, J. (2023). Costs and cost-effectiveness of improved nurse staffing levels and skill mix in acute hospitals: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 147, 104601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2023.104601

Marufu, T. C., Collins, A., Vargas, L., Gillespie, L., & Almghairbi, D. (2021). Factors influencing retention among hospital nurses: Systematic review. British Journal of Nursing, 30(5), 302-308. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2021.30.5.302

NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 2

Muis, R., Denton, C., & Dubé, A. (2022). Identifying CRAAP on the internet: A source evaluation intervention. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(7), 239-265. http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.97.12670

Noya, F., Carr, S., Freeman, K., Thompson, S., Clifford, R., & Playford, D. (2021). Strategies to facilitate improved recruitment, development, and retention of the rural and remote medical workforce: A scoping review. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 11(10), 2022. https://doi.org/10.34172/ijhpm.2021.160

Ren, H., Li, P., Xue, Y., Xin, W., Yin, X., & Li, H. (2024). Global prevalence of nurse turnover rates: A meta‐analysis of 21 studies from 14 countries. Journal of Nursing Management, 2024(1), 5063998. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5063998