Long wait times for medical appointments and short visits are consequences of an overwhelmed and understaffed healthcare system. With the emergence of a new and rapidly mutating virus and an increase in patient mistrust, the COVID-19 pandemic placed undue pressure on nurses, even those who didn’t directly care for COVID patients. It’s been widely reported that healthcare workers have fled the industry since the start of the pandemic. A survey early last year by staffing firm Incredible Health found that 34% of nurses said it was very likely that they would leave their role by the end of 2022. Burnout and a high-stress environment were among the top reasons cited. It’s likely the residual staffing challenges aren’t going to end soon.
Solving the nursing shortage requires the healthcare industry to rebrand and increase its appeal to prospective talent, in addition to restructuring support for caregivers. Nurses who receive the proper systemic support are more likely to have higher levels of career satisfaction and more positive, impactful interactions with patients. This is not only integral to rebuilding trust in the healthcare system, but also to improving healthcare outcomes. An industry-wide shift toward digital transformation has the potential to accelerate this restructuring progress.
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Julia Bietsch