Review Of Current Healthcare Issues Essay Discussion

Review Of Current Healthcare Issues Essay Discussion

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Thank you for sharing your experiences as a bedside nurse in the TCU and ICU during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your firsthand insights into the challenges faced by healthcare professionals are both valuable and enlightening. The issues you highlighted resonate deeply with the broader healthcare landscape. The issues include the impact of COVID-19 on nurse retention, the lack of administrative support, and the potential nursing shortage due to various factors.

In my healthcare work setting, a local hospital with diverse departments, we have also felt the strain caused by these challenges. The pandemic has brought to light the importance of a well-supported healthcare workforce. The compassion fatigue and stress you mentioned are concerns that healthcare professionals in my setting have also grappled with. Burnout and increased workloads have led to concerns about the quality of patient care and the overall well-being of the staff (Gemine et al., 20121)Review Of Current Healthcare Issues Essay Discussion.

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Our institution has been focusing on several strategies to address these national healthcare issues. Leadership has implemented wellness programs. This program, as indicate by Song and Baicker (2021), offers mental health resources and opportunities for staff to engage in self-care. Additionally, flexible scheduling and workload adjustments have been introduced to alleviate strain. The hospital has also been actively collaborating with nursing schools to facilitate educational opportunities and encourage the entry of new nurses into the field.

Reflecting on your experience with a hospital administration’s resistance to unionization, I can understand the potential negative impact of such conflicts on staff morale and the overall quality of care. In our setting, open communication channels between administration and staff are encouraged, and efforts are made to address concerns through transparent dialogue.

As we approach 2030, the need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate the impact of these healthcare stressors becomes more urgent (Sovold et al., 2021)Review Of Current Healthcare Issues Essay Discussion. Your insights underscore the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure a resilient healthcare system. I am grateful for your sharing and inspired by your dedication to nursing.

References

Gemine, R., Davies, G. R., Tarrant, S., Davies, R. M., James, M., & Lewis, K. (2021). Factors associated with work-related burnout in NHS staff during COVID-19: a cross-sectional mixed methods study. BMJ open, 11(1), e042591.

Song, Z., & Baicker, K. (2021). Health And Economic Outcomes Up To Three Years After A Workplace Wellness Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial: Study examines the health and economic outcomes of a workplace wellness program. Health affairs, 40(6), 951-960.

Sovold, L. E., Naslund, J. A., Kousoulis, A. A., Saxena, S., Qoronfleh, M. W., Grobler, C., & Münter, L. (2021). Prioritizing the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers: an urgent global public health priority. Frontiers in public health, 9, 679397.

Response to POST 2: Healthcare Disparities Based on Race and Ethnicity

I appreciate your comprehensive analysis of healthcare disparities based on race and ethnicity. This issue also resonates within my work setting. Diverse patient populations at my place often encounter inequities in accessing quality care. The impact of these disparities on patient outcomes and provider-patient relationships is a shared concern (Lopez et al., 2021)Review Of Current Healthcare Issues Essay Discussion.

The effects of healthcare disparities are also readily apparent in my healthcare organization. Patients from marginalized racial and ethnic backgrounds may have obstacles that impact their health outcomes, according to El-Dassouki et al. (2021). Mahajan et al. (2021) claim that healthcare providers struggle to provide culturally competent care. Seeing how your institution tackles this problem through cultural competency training and developing a diverse workforce is encouraging. The fact that proactive measures are being taken to improve patient-provider interactions and lessen healthcare disparities is positive.

The emphasis on socioeconomic status as a critical determinant resonates with our context. We have initiated outreach programs targeting underserved communities to address socioeconomic barriers and improve access to care. These initiatives align with your hospital’s community engagement efforts. We are also prioritizing the collection and analysis of patient demographic data to identify disparities and tailor interventions, much like the data-driven approach you have highlighted.

Your evidence-based approach, backed by references, reaffirms the importance of tackling disparities through well-informed strategies. It is evident that your hospital’s initiatives are making a meaningful impact. They provide valuable insights for similar efforts within my healthcare organization.

The proactive approaches your hospital uses, together with your insightful perspective on healthcare disparities based on race and ethnicity, serve as a beacon of hope for my healthcare institution as we work to address related issues. Your use of evidence-based approach highlights the need of making wise decisions while promoting equal treatment. We are prepared to make significant progress toward lowering healthcare disparities and ensuring a more inclusive healthcare landscape by drawing motivation from your actions Review Of Current Healthcare Issues Essay Discussion.

References

El-Dassouki, N., Wong, D., Toews, D. M., Gill, J., Edwards, B., Orchanian-Cheff, A., … & Mucsi, I. (2021). Barriers to accessing kidney transplantation among populations marginalized by race and ethnicity in Canada: a scoping review Part 2—East Asian, South Asian, and African, Caribbean, and black Canadians. Canadian journal of kidney health and disease, 8, 2054358121996834.

Lopez, L., Hart, L. H., & Katz, M. H. (2021). Racial and ethnic health disparities related to COVID-19. Jama, 325(8), 719-720.

Mahajan, S., Caraballo, C., Lu, Y., Valero-Elizondo, J., Massey, D., Annapureddy, A. R., … & Krumholz, H. M. (2021). Trends in differences in health status and health care access and affordability by race and ethnicity in the United States, 1999-2018. Jama, 326(7), 637-648.

Current Healthcare Issues

Nursing staffing shortages are among the most significant national stressors within the United States healthcare system. Specifically, the nursing shortage has increased dramatically following the COVID-19 outbreak due to a rise in demand for healthcare services. Nurses enhance patient care quality, safety, efficiency, and timeliness to achieve desired health outcomes (Bakhamis et al., 2019). Additionally, nurses transform healthcare organizations through leadership roles (Broome & Marshall, 2021)Review Of Current Healthcare Issues Essay Discussion. Therefore, the nursing shortage affects the US healthcare system adversely.

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The shortage of nurses has impacted our healthcare organization negatively. Nurses’ workload has increased substantially in the healthcare organization to meet the high demand for healthcare services. Studies show that healthcare outcomes in medical facilities significantly depend on nurses’ workload (Norful et al., 2018). Therefore, nurses’ job performance, productivity, and ability to provide high-quality and safe patient care have been compromised, resulting in adverse health outcomes. The social determinant with the most significant effect on the nursing shortage is the decrease in nursing graduates in the United States. A lower number of nurse graduates is a significant challenge facing the United States healthcare system (Chan et al., 2021). As a result, it is challenging to meet the high demand for nurses nationwide.

The management has introduced various measures to address the nursing shortage in the healthcare organization. First, the organization hires contract nurses to meet the high nurse demand. Additionally, nurses are hired depending on the demand for healthcare services. For instance, more critical care nurses are hired to meet the increased demand for healthcare services in the emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures resolve nursing in the healthcare organization, improving the quality and safety of patient care. Review Of Current Healthcare Issues Essay Discussion

References

Bakhamis, L., Paul, D.P., Smith, H., & Coustasse, A. (2019). Still an Epidemic: The Burnout Syndrome in Hospital Registered Nurses. Healthcare Management; 38(1):3-10

Broome, M., & Marshall, E. S. (2021). Transformational leadership in nursing: From expert clinician to influential leader (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Springer.

Chan, G. K., Bitton, J. R., Allgeyer, R. L., Elliott, D., Hudson, L. R., & Burwell, P. M. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on the nursing workforce: a national overview. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 26(2), 1–17.

Norful, A. A., de Jacq, K., Carlino, R., & Poghosyan, L. (2018). Nurse practitioner–physician comanagement: A theoretical model to alleviate primary care strain. Annals of Family Medicine, 16(3), 250–256.

 INSTRUCTIONS

The initial post above is MY POST which will be a guide for you to respond to POST 1 and POST 2 below. Please respond to POST 1 AND POST 2 below SEPERATELY and each of them should have three  references.

Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days who chose a different national healthcare issue/stressor than you selected. Explain how their chosen national healthcare issue/stressor may also impact your work setting and what (if anything) is being done to address the national healthcare issue/stressor. Review Of Current Healthcare Issues Essay Discussion

POST 1

Being a bedside nurse during covid 19 working TCU and ICU I saw firsthand the extraordinary circumstances that people persevered through during this time.  I also saw many leave bedside nursing for many reasons.  Lack of support from administration (they stayed home) to lack of support on the floor, there was simply not enough nurses and support personnel to assist with the job.  How many of us can raise a hand due to having reused an N95?  These create compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress (Marorga Hamilton, K.J., 2022) While we not currently see the number to indicate a nursing shortage, we are looking at an aging population that will retire and with the most current climate it is unsure whether or not we will be able to recoup the numbers lost due to retirement and voluntary leaving to due the recent pandemic (Baker, D.W., 2022)Review Of Current Healthcare Issues Essay Discussion, which could lead to a shortage by 2030 which is rapidly approaching.  While some areas may not see this shortage, others will and the strain will increase the compassion fatigue further.

 Which social determinant(s) most affects this health issue? 

Looking at the social determinants of health the one most appropriate to this situation would be Social and Community Context by which people are affected within the domain of their workforce (US Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.).  A positive workforce reduces negative outcomes within the workforce and within their personal domains as well.

Then, describe how your health system work setting has responded to the healthcare issue/stressor, including a description of what changes may have been implemented.

I am still currently a bedside nurse; however, I did leave my hometown hospital to travel nurse.  It was the way I saved my passion for my profession.  When I left my hospital, the nurses were actively working on trying to bring in a union and the administration was fighting it tooth and nail.  I am still in contact with nurses back at this facility and the changes that the administration has implemented have not been to the benefit of the organization as a whole, especially the nurses.  If the goal of the administration is to show the workforce that they are engaged in their wellbeing (Jacobs, et al., 2018)Review Of Current Healthcare Issues Essay Discussion, then my previous hospital is failing miserably.  They are still actively fighting the establishment of a nurse’s union at that facility.  They have not managed to successfully recruit new staff, instead they are relying heavily on travel nurses with some units having over 70% travel nursing staff.

I can only imagine the strides they could have taken if they had worked with their staff and not fought for two years to prevent a union.  If they had supported their staff throughout the pandemic instead of staying home.  2030 is coming fast and I think for this facility faster than they think.

References

Baker, D. W. (2022, May). Addressing the nursing shortage in the United States: An interview with dr. Peter Buerhaus. Joint Commission journal on quality and patient safety. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8920315/Links to an external site.

Jacobs, B., McGovern, J., Heinmiller, J., & Drenkard, K. (2018). Engaging employees in well-being. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 42(3), 231–245. https://doi.org/10.1097/naq.0000000000000303Links to an external site.

Mayorga Hamilton, K. J. (2022). The Nursing Shortage Part 2. Health Lawyer, 35(2), 1–19.

US Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Social and community context. Social and Community Context – Healthy People 2030. https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/social-and-community-contextLinks to an external site. Review Of Current Healthcare Issues Essay Discussion

POST 2

Healthcare Disparities Based on Race and Ethnicity: Impacts and Responses

Healthcare disparities based on race and ethnicity have emerged as a critical national issue, reflecting systemic inequities that lead to unequal access to quality healthcare services and disparate health outcomes among different racial and ethnic groups. This issue has profound implications for hospital work settings, including my own, and necessitates targeted responses to address its multifaceted impact.

Impact on Hospital Work Setting:

In a hospital work setting, healthcare disparities based on race and ethnicity can have far-reaching consequences. For instance, patients from marginalized racial and ethnic groups may experience delayed diagnoses, limited access to specialized treatments, and lower quality of care due to systemic biases and cultural misunderstandings. This impacts healthcare providers as well, as they encounter challenges in delivering patient-centered care and fostering trust with diverse patient populations. Moreover, these disparities can contribute to increased healthcare costs and resource allocation challenges.

Social Determinants and Impact:

The social determinant most affecting healthcare disparities based on race and ethnicity is socioeconomic status. People from marginalized racial and ethnic backgrounds often face economic challenges, limited access to education, and inadequate housing conditions, which hinder their ability to access healthcare services (Nelson et al., 2019). Discrimination and structural racism exacerbate these disparities. Language barriers, cultural beliefs, and health literacy also play a significant role in shaping healthcare experiences and outcomes for different groups (Smith et al., 2020)Review Of Current Healthcare Issues Essay Discussion.

Organizational Response:

At Houston Methodist, we recognize the urgency of addressing healthcare disparities based on race and ethnicity. Our response is multifaceted and ongoing, demonstrating our commitment to equitable healthcare delivery:

1. Cultural Competency Training:All staff members, from nurses to administrative personnel, undergo mandatory cultural competency training to enhance their ability to provide patient-centered care to diverse populations. This training emphasizes effective communication, recognizing implicit biases, and understanding cultural nuances.
2. Diverse Workforce Promotion:Houston Methodist actively promotes diversity in its workforce through targeted recruitment efforts. By hiring staff members from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, we aim to foster a more inclusive environment and improve patient-provider interactions.
3. Language Services Enhancement:To bridge language barriers, we’ve expanded our interpreter services to cover a wider array of languages. This ensures that patients can effectively communicate their healthcare needs, leading to better care coordination and understanding.
4. Community Outreach Programs:We’ve established partnerships with local community organizations that serve marginalized racial and ethnic groups. These collaborations facilitate outreach, health education, and tailored services to address specific needs within these communities.
5. Data Collection and Analysis:Houston Methodist is committed to data-driven decision-making. We collect and analyze patient demographic data to identify disparities and track improvements over time. This enables us to target interventions effectively. Review Of Current Healthcare Issues Essay Discussion

Evidence-Based Approach:

According to Smith et al. (2020), hospitals that implement cultural competency training witness improved patient satisfaction and adherence rates among diverse populations. Additionally, a study by Johnson et al. (2018) highlights the positive impact of diverse healthcare workforces on reducing healthcare disparities, enhancing communication, and fostering trust. Moreover, research by Nelson et al. (2019) underscores the significance of community outreach programs in improving access to care and addressing health disparities among underserved racial and ethnic groups.

In conclusion, healthcare disparities based on race and ethnicity pose significant challenges within hospital work settings. However, through targeted initiatives like cultural competency training, diverse workforce promotion, community engagement, and data-driven decision-making, Houston Methodist is actively addressing these disparities and promoting equitable healthcare delivery.

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References

Johnson, T. J., Hickey, R. W., Switzer, G. E., Miller, E., Winger, D. G., & Nguyen, M. B. (2018). The impact of cognitive          diversity on surgical teams. American Journal of Surgery, 215(2), 196-200.

Nelson, S. C., & Prasad, S. (2019). Community-based participatory research to promote healthy nutrition among                African American adults in a rural community. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 6(5), 1061-1070.

Smith, D. B., & Lo, B. (2020). Cultural competence, quality, and disparities: A report from the Institute of Medicine.              JAMA Internal Medicine, 180(8), 1039-1040. Review Of Current Healthcare Issues Essay Discussion