The presentation will cover several important aspects, including patient safety, the nursing shortage, internal evidence of the nursing shortage, the organizational priority for intervention, the quality improvement project, and the anticipated outcomes of addressing the nursing shortage.
Patient safety refers to the efforts made to prevent avoidable medical errors and minimize unnecessary patient suffering (Perkins, 2021). One of the main goals is to reduce the likelihood of medical errors, ensuring that patients are not subjected to harm. Medical errors are a global concern, with the annual cost of medication errors alone reaching an estimated $42 billion (Perkins, 2021). In high-income countries, health care-associated infections affect approximately 7% of patients, while in low- and middle-income countries, this figure rises to 10%. Diagnostic errors, which affect about 5% of outpatient care patients, often lead to severe harm, with 50% of these errors resulting in critical outcomes (Perkins, 2021). This presentation focuses on the nursing shortage as a factor that exacerbates patient safety challenges.
The nursing shortage is an increasing concern that threatens the healthcare system, particularly as the U.S. population ages. By 2030, every member of the baby boomer generation (born between 1946 and 1964) will be 65 years or older, significantly increasing the demand for healthcare services (Perkins, 2021). As individuals live longer, their need for medical care also rises. Additionally, competition from the private sector, offering better compensation and working conditions, is contributing to the loss of experienced nurses. The COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the situation, with around 47% of healthcare professionals contemplating leaving the field (Perkins, 2021). Without sufficient staffing, hospitals risk deteriorating patient care and overall system breakdown.
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