Question

what are some of the challenges faced by nurses today?

Answer 1

Nurses are a crucial element to all healthcare departments. But nurses face numerous challenges in today’s complex healthcare environment. These include:

• Staffing – Short staffing is a big concern for healthcare departments as well as for its nurses. In locations with shortages, nurses face extra pressure due to the added responsibilities on their shoulders. Also, with such a dearth, it becomes extremely difficult for nurses to provide adequate care that each and every patient requires. This sense of inadequacy makes the nurses feel dissatisfied as well as exhausted.
• Long working hours – In extension to the above point, nurses are often required to work extra hours to compensate for staff shortages thus risking fatigue and medical errors. This is problematic as cognitive decline due to fatigue can severely compromise the well being and safety of the patients.
• Workplace hazards – At the workplace, nurses are constantly exposed to bloodborne pathogens, injuries, as well as cold and flu germs. Although precautionary measures are taken in most healthcare facilities today, the risk, although minimized, is never zero.
• Workplace violence – This is another pressing issue for nurses. Hitting, kicking, and beating are common incidents reported in the workplace.
• Bullying and harassment – Nurses experience bullying and harassment on a routine basis. This is especially common among newly joined nurses who are subjected to constant ragging as well as inappropriate contact. Physical assault is also a common complaint, especially among female nurses.