Nine in 10 nurses believe the quality of patient care often suffers as a result of work overload related to the nursing shortage. That’s according to a survey of 1,000 American nurses conducted by OnePoll and nurse staffing
firm connectRN.

The majority added that they feel guilty about taking a break because they think they must always be on call (55%). Almost six in 10 noticed their patients have suffered because nurses have too much on their plate (56%).

Additionally, half of nurses polled admit they have considered leaving the profession. The top reasons survey participants cited for planning to leave their careers: nursing shortages (61%), need for better work/life balance (58%), concern over mental health/burnout (56%) and lack
of appreciation (51%).

“Nurses need new ways to work in order for there to be a solution to the critical labor shortage we are experiencing,” said Ted Jeanloz, CEO of connectRN. “By giving nurses flexibility, we can pull them back into the profession and ensure that neither patients nor nurses suffer, alleviating some of the pressure they’ve been experiencing lately.”

The survey also asked nurses about their biggest frustrations. They most often said not enough staff (65%), low wages (39%) and lack of respect for their work (34%).They also stated that their profession offers them a lack of flexibility over their schedule (21%), not enough time for friends and family (21%) and not enough opportunity for career advancement (12%).

Overall, the changes nurses said they want to help them feel empowered are better communication with upper management (57%), opportunities to negotiate salaries (57%), better equipment/medical gear (38%) and chances
of promotion (35%).

“Many nurses entered the profession because it was a calling and is a job that they love,” Jeanloz said.
“If they feel burned out and taken advantage of by the system when they show up to work, they will lose sight of why they became nurses in the first place,” he added. “We owe it to them to offer the flexibility that so many other workers enjoy so they can be the best nurses they can be.”

From the December 2022 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News