Experience from Nursing Capstone Project

NURSING CAPSTONE PAPER



Nursing Shortage and High Nursing Turnovers

Nursing Shortages in the Acute Healthcare Setting

One of the most prevalent and well-known issues in the healthcare profession is nursing shortages. Due to the recent pandemic the shortages of nurses across the nation are on the rise. Nursing shortages and high nursing turnovers are affecting healthcare facilities across the nation and will continue to do so in the years to come. The nursing profession will struggle “with a critical nursing shortage that is predicted to continue through 2025” (Bong, 2019). Nursing turnover does not only impact hospital staff, “patients acknowledge these frequent nurse replacements, as they feel they are being treated by a less competent new nurse, which leads to the patient’s decreased trust satisfaction, and increased complaints about nursing services” (Dewanto, & Wardhani, 2018). One factor that contributes to nursing shortage as well as nursing turnover is nursing burnout and fatigue. For my Capstone Project this nurse’s proposal will concentrate on decreasing nursing turnover and addressing the nursing shortage within the acute-care facility setting. To address this issue, it is essential that proper education and training is provided to all staff members. In addition, it is crucial for all nurses to be aware of the facility policies and protocols. Ultimately, to make positive changes within the healthcare setting staff education and a collaborative among the interprofessional team effort is required, which in turn can have positive outcome on patient’s safety and overall well-being.

The setting in which this nurse will be observing high nursing turnover is the acute healthcare facility on a COVID-19 unit in which my preceptor and I work. We will observe the work environment and discuss ways in which we can identify contributing factors that are leading to high nursing turnover. After identifying key issues contributing to nursing turnover this nurse and her preceptor will discuss interventions that can be used to improve the work environment and reduce nursing turnover. To improve nursing turnover this nurse will work alongside her preceptor, nurses, nurse technicians, managers, and physicians to receive feedback to be able to identify the contributing factors to high staffing turnovers.

Effects of Nursing Shortage and High Nursing Turnover

To perform high quality and comprehensive patient care nurses must have a good rapport with their patients. Nurses who are fatigued, burnout, or not properly trained find it hard to manage care for their six patients of different acuity levels. Patients are aware of the high turnover which leads to a negative reputation for the Healthcare facility. Due to high nursing turnovers, nurses are being placed on the units with little training which has a negative impact on patient care. As nurses one of our main goals should be providing quality care and to do so, staff nurses must the resources needed and properly trained based on the expectations of the unit and their scope of practice.

Significance of Topic

Nurses are more like work in an environment that encourages the staff and promotes the well-being of their patients. “A welcoming and friendly work environment that emphasizes teamwork and esprit de corps among all employees at all levels of the organization enhances interpersonal and organizational trust, employee’s engagement, and an overall sense of community. This healthy productive work environment is essential for ensuring patient safety.” (Clark, 2019). To promote patient safety and well-being nursing turnover and nursing shortage must be addressed.

Proposed Solution

The proposed solution would be to develop a plan to have a long-term mentor from a nurse that is experienced on the unit for new hires. Monthly meetings will be added to ensure that the needs of the staff on the unit are being met, and they have the resources needed to perform their job efficiently. During these meetings any concerns will be discussed and addressed. We will address patient assignments based on acuity and skill sets to prevent nursing burnout causing nurses to leave their positions. To prevent burnout if additional staff is needed recruitment and proper training will be provided for new staff. The goal of this project is to retain the staff currently employed at the facility and create a positive work environment, which in turn will improve patient care by introducing more evidence-based practices to acute care setting.



ASSIGNMENT

When assuming the role of an instructor, it will be necessary to become re-acquainted with concepts from your own undergraduate experience and become proficient in the research topics as you assist the students through these concepts. What was your capstone project when you completed your BSN? What elements of the capstone were most challenging to you? How can you use that experience to assist students in their RN-BSN Capstone course?