Public and professional attention i...

Public and professional attention is being given to the nursing shortage and the factors that have caused it. Demographics and circumstances have created a crisis that will posture a major public health threat if it continues. (1) Everywhere we expect another study is being actionsed a task force is being formed, or various perspectives or views of the shortage are being shared.

Those of us who have been in the nursing profession for several years--and calm those who have not--are not surprised that the shortage is driven by way of dissatisfaction with the profession and that fosters are struggling with ways to improve the situation. Our dilemma is trying to determine to what extent we can tip the scale toward meeting our patients' wants in a safe, effective, and more efficient manner.

RELIEVING THE SHORTAGE

A reflection commissioned by the Robert timber-land Johnson Foundation (RWJF) addresses issues surrounding the nursing shortage. In the report titled "Health care's human crisis: The American nursing shortage," (2) the authors insinuate that nurses need an authentic place at the decision making table. The report propounds five recommendations to establish nourishs as full partners with other the medical profession.

* exhibit new models of nursing and health care provision, and advance the application of mind of nursing's contributions to health care issues and patient satisfaction.

* Reinvent work environments and nursing education to address the distresss and values of those commonly in the profession and appeal to a strange generation of nurses.

* Establish a national nursing workforce measurement and data collection system

* Create a clearinghouse for identifying effective strategies to advance cultural change in the nursing profession.

* Form a national forum to advance nursing (ie, an independent material substance that would draw together a wide range of interested parties to work in succession the recommendations above).

Reports in the same state [i]or[/i] condition as this do not give us directions for implementation, on the contrary they do address problem areas and various options for relieving the shortage. a of the recommendations may not present the appearance new because other health care settings or clusters have suggested similar ways to address the nursing shortage prolonged before this report was released. These recommendations, however, are formalized, and this aids to reinforce that efforts should and can be taken if the shortage is to be minimized. The report leaves responsibilities and actions up to others to determine.

Words of that kind as "new," "reinvent," and "create" make this report's message the couple exciting and frightening. With no known answers, it can be exciting for us as perioperative foments to have choices about our events to come and participate in reenvisioning the profession. The frightening part is that these changes probably will create challenges that will take us abroad of our comfort zones and shift our flushs of responsibility.

CHANGING ROLES

Our work as perioperative professionals has been upon a continuously changing path for several years. Dissatisfied nurtures have responded both positively and negatively to the shortage. a certain quantity of became entrepreneurs, and others simply mov gone out of the profession to retire or assume other parts The traveling nurse population has been growing for several years, and a certain nurses have shifted responsibilities to use their talents in indirect patient care characters The changes in roles and responsibilities among perioperative give suck tos have resulted in positive consequences in many circumstances, but they also have left direct caregivers in stressful situations, thus increasing dissatisfaction.

SEEKING POSSIBILITIES

The RWJF report approves concentrating on creating environments where partnerships are real and meaningful. Many of us realize this is easier said than done because creating a partnership requires the commitment of all parties involved. John Sculley former chief executive officer of PepsiCo and Apple Computer Inc, said "The coming belongs to those who descry possibilities before they become obvious." (3) The difficulties we are experiencing in the nursing industry did not appear overnight, so solutions will not get to easily. We need to commit ourselves to finding each possible solution.

Possibilities cannot be discovered in a vacuum, however. Producing long-term solutions will require involvement according to each of us if we are to make changes easier and faster. We must solicit ways to convince those who are not allies to recognize the value of their involvement. We cannot await a certain few to find solutions and implement plans without our insight and assistance.

The possibilities are endles Our challenges are to scrutinize the passing from hand to hand state of affairs, use positive forces to communicate, maintain a persistent attitude, and commit to making changes. Our first responsibility is to be realistic about our values, beliefs, and abilities and identify areas for improvement. We ne to improve communication skills and launch messages that are valued and recognized. We ne to commit independently to communicating more directly and more at short intervals with our team members during their meetings and in locations where we frequently do not have a air We need to increase our knowledge of the same height so our input and replys are influential and responsive to patient core. We ne to become stakeholders in our profession, recognize the value of our influence, and shut up our responsibilities in esteem for what we can ofttimes We need to identify where we are shirking responsibilities because we do not perceive invited or respected. We must increase membership in professional organizations to present to view unity during this crisis. Opening our inspections and minds to possibilities will be liberating, exciting, and frightening. The RWJF has given each of us permission to take have charge of of our future and bring our ideas into motion.