Investment in Social Capital to Mitigate Nursing Shortages Post-Pandemic

Abstract

The impacts of the pandemic have further eroded nursing work environments and have exacerbated the nursing shortage. Interventions have largely focused on unit-based interventions and unsustainable financial incentives to increase the levels of human capital in the organization to meet patient demand. Organizations may help to mitigate shortages, improve nurse work environments, and improve patient outcomes through intentional interventions related to social capital networks in the organization. This article describes the role of social capital in the context of the health care organization and proposes use of a conceptual model to improve social capital in the nurse work environment.