Current issues with Nursing today...

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HELP... I have to write a long paper dealing with current issues in nursing today. I need someone to help me. Just give me anything you can think of. PLEASE

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Specializes in ICU, ER.

How about the ever-increasing workload, stress, and paperwork?

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bill4745 said:
How about the ever-increasing workload, stress, and paperwork?

Good one keep them coming ?

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Skimming the threads here should be a treasure trove of ideas.

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

*How hospitals can improve nurse retention

*Portrayal of nurses in the media (this is a really interesting study if you get the chance)

*Pros and cons of recruiting foreign nurses

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Specializes in M/S/Ortho/Bari/ED.

The passing of the torch from the oldies to the newbies. Our floor flat out eats their young , who are truly eager to learn and try their best, but we have repeatedly said to our management as one new grad drops off the radar after another that unless the mentoring and encouragement don't change and get up to speed with the times, the med-surg floors will be left hanging high and dry when the baby boomers go to retire in the next 3-7 years and are overflowing the ER's and tele floors with broken hips, knee replacements, chest pain and uncontrolled diabetes.

This is a serious nursing issue, as well as a patient care issue and a hospital crisis issue in the making...I have been trying to rally up a board to address this issue head on before it gets out of control, with no luck.

Good luck with you research though!

Angela

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I'm currently reading Nursing Against the Odds by Suzanne Gordon. I don't know how much time you have, but it is a great book and it brings attention to a LOT of different issues.

Namely-- nurse subservience, media portrayal, issues in communication, dress, budget cuts and doing more with less, abuse-- both verbal and physical, etc.

If you don't have the time to read it, look around some of the advocacy sites and this site and you will absolutely find enough to have a good topic-- or a few good topics, and you should be good to go.

After the paper, I recommend this book!

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Specializes in ITU/Emergency.

It is interesting that all these problems that Nurses face in the States, such as unsafe staffing levels, poor retention, lack of resources, no support form management, are problems that are global. It is the same in the UK and from what I understand talking to other foreign nurses, it is the same everywhere. So, why is it that these problems are endemic to nursing? Is it that nursing attracts certain 'types' of people who are willing to work in fairly intolerable circumstances and generally put patents needs first before their own? Do nurses just not complain? Why do nurses agree to keep working overtime when, yes they are helping out their workmates, but they are really helping out the management for why do they need to sort out staffing issues when their nurses keep bailing them out? And the list goes on... I am not describing nurses as doormats or belittling my profession before any one gets upset with me but I am just playing devils advocate and I think its a valid point I am making and just gives food for thought!

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Public image, the shortage, wages, retention, education issues, working conditions, etc.

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Specializes in Corrections, neurology, dialysis.

Violence in the workplace from patients, family members and possibly even co-workers.

Media portrayal - yeah, I'd really like to see more done on that.

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Specializes in Gerontology.

Infection control - the increasing number of MRSA, VRE, ESBL pts.

The new disease that we don't know enough about. You want to see a stress level rise? Just walk into any Toronto and area hosptial and say "SARS" - you practically see people tense up!

The treat of a flu epidemic or bird flu. Are we ready? Can we handle it? Will I get it from a patient? Will I bring it home to my family?

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What a great forum! I am currently having the same trouble as Carla25, not knowing what to do my assignment on. And hey presto I googled issues in nursing today and I found this. I now have plenty of potential topics, the only problem is picking one.

Thank you everyone for the great ideas, and thanks to Carla25 for asking the question!

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