“The overall outlook of the healthcare staffing shortage is grim, but can be substantially improved if prompt action is taken within a hospital,” stated Dr. Brooks. “For the short-term outlook, staff are simply burned out from COVID’s
impact and the continued strain on bed capacity and nursing ratios. The long-term outlook should be viewed as a national priority as health systems need to determine if they can deliver the same high-quality care with constrained resources.”
According to Dr. Brooks, employees need to see and understand the value they bring to the organization. They can feel supported through educational and support programs as well as emotional and cultural resources.
Taking these steps can ultimately help create exceptional outcomes for patients and the hospital. “Although pay is a major factor within staff retention efforts, it is not the only thing keeping staff within the same care organization. Staff
want to feel like they are being nurtured professionally and cared for personally because if there is one thing COVID-19 has taught us, it’s that mental and emotional support is vital for long-term health, especially among our healthcare
workers.”
Dr. Brooks also emphasized the need to invest in employee training and education. Doing so will enable staff to keep up with the growing complexities within the patient population, earn higher wages and streamline their approach within their hospital’s
care team.