Research article

NURSING SHORTAGE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS AND STRATEGIES FOR SOLUTION

Amira Abu Elkhyer Mohammed1, Hayam Hanafi Mahmoud2 , Linie Villorijo Arcibal3

Online First: September 30, 2022


Background: The nursing shortage is a major global problem and a multifaceted challenge in healthcare systems that have reached warning thresholds. A shortage of nurses jeopardizes the delivery of quality care to clients. Aim: Assess contributing factors of the nursing shortage and its strategies for solution. Methods: Cross-sectional study was performed on 50 nurses. The study was conducted in a private hospital in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected by using a structured interview questionnaire to identify contributing factors of the nursing shortage and the strategies for solution. Results: The factors of nurses’ shortage in a private hospital in Saudi Arabia as low salary income and discrimination in dealing with nurses leads to longer patient hospitalization period and an increased number of medical errors so, for solving these issues it should increase community awareness about nursing value as a profession; give enough support for the nursing profession and restructure nursing education to attract new people to the profession. Conclusions: The current study was concluded that main contributing factors to the nursing shortage are financial, and administrative support and community misunderstanding about nursing as a profession Recommendation: Increase community awareness about nursing value as a profession; give enough support to nursing profession and restructure nursing education to attract new people to the profession.

Keywords

Assessment; Nursing shortage; contributing factor and strategies of solution.