Capstone Change Proposal: Nursing Shortage

Benchmark - Capstone Project Change Proposal
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Benchmark - Capstone Project Change Proposal
Background
Staffing issues within the healthcare sector have been persistent in the United States. According to Haryanto (2019), nursing is one of the affected sectors, with the problem of nursing shortage emerging as a concerning aspect that influences the quality of healthcare outcomes across the states in the nation. Foli et al. (2021) recognize that an imbalance in the number of nurses against the patients exists, making it challenging for these healthcare providers to deliver services as needed. The primary concern is that the shortage hampers the capability of these professionals to meet the individual needs of all patients in different departments, including the inpatients. Such an aspect raises concern because it compromises the health outcomes of these patients. It also diminishes their satisfaction level, demonstrating the importance of addressing the nursing shortage through appropriate staffing mechanisms to balance the nurse-patient ratio.
Diverse factors interact to trigger the nursing shortage in the U.S. Haryanto (2019) states that these elements are interrelated and complex and that they range from economic and structural to political and social complications. Their presence gradually triggered a worrying staff shortage in the country, which became even more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic when the human workforce resources suffered extreme pressures due to the workload that overstretched and overburdened these stakeholders. Such recognition has triggered awareness about the need for investigating and finding solutions to this healthcare problem. In this context, Gan (2020) clarified that of the many causative factors, the rapid baby boomers aging illustrates why the U.S. continues to grapple with the nursing shortage predicament. Many healthcare facilities are suffering as these already experienced experts retire, leading to a progressive loss of clinical expertise and tacit knowledge amid an aging population that requires more personalized care. As a consequence, the issue of increasing the number of nurses has become fundamental for the health system’s stability.
Clinical Problem Statement
The nursing shortage issue in the United States has worsened over the years in different states and healthcare facilities. Various researchers have confirmed that it is a significant issue of concern despite the ongoing advancements and policies targeting to improve the overall quality of healthcare delivery within hospitals and in community settings. For instance, Zhang et al. (2018) report that the problem is becoming widespread nationwide because 37 of 50 states will face the nursing shortage challenge by 2030. Many other institutions have thoroughly explored this problem to unearth the underlying issues and their severity. In this context, Foli et al. (2021) indicate that research by the International Council of Nurses found concerning gaps revealing that the U.S. will face a shortage of approximately 10 million in this area by 2030. Such high numbers confirm the gravity of the problem, w...