World views on shortage in nursing resource: Challenges and opportunities

Abstract

BackgroundShortage in nursing resource results from the combination of a lack of nurses, an increased patient volume and workload, and other factors. This seems to be a worldwide phenomenon, leading to multiple health care related challenges and a decreased quality of care, but is different in extent in high- vs. low-income countries. An international perspective can alleviate challenges to keep our patients safe through increasing our health workers' safety. Purpose & MethodTo exchange experiences with the shortage in nursing resource globally, an international online conference event was hosted. Speakers from Germany, the Philippines, Poland, Tanzania, the United Kingdom and the United States presented their national challenges and strategies to deal with this phenomenon. ResultsConference presentations included information about the health care systems, comparable numbers of hospital beds, nurses, and nursing education. Speakers reported challenges such as an imbalance between a high nurse vacancy rate and demands, but also war and refugees, high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other infection rates, or nurses’ migration to other countries; the solutions reported included buy-in from other countries, nurses-attracting projects such as Magnet hospitals, improved job opportunities like higher wages, career prospects, or improved education, and others. ConclusionsShortage in nursing resource seems to be a global phenomenon. Nursing managers and researchers should exchange and communicate challenges and solutions continuously and cooperate globally.