Main Problem In The Nursing Field?

[blueyesue]

What do you see is the main problem in the nursing field? I am supposed to do a 10 page report on a major problem within nursing and the solutions to it. I would like to have 3 of the main ones to choose from. Thank you in advance for your input.

[sddlnscp]

I think the main problem in nursing is a refusal to recognize and reward the work of the people providing the basic level of nursing service - the CNA. When the nursing profession learns to accept the CNA as the first step of professional nursing and to provide a clear and affordable path of upward career mobility to all members who wish to pursue it, we will lose fewer nurses due to the burnout that comes from working in understaffed and unsafe environments.

Ditto that! I am not a CNA, nor have I worked in healthcare yet, I am a nursing student. However, I think CNAs deserve so much credit for everything that they do! I have a friend who is a CNA and adores her job. She loves the patient contact, she adores geriatrics, and she likes being delegated to. She is so saddened by the fact that she can't feed her kids off of her salary. She is enrolled in nursing school because she can't make ends meet and she hates that she is on food stamps and doesn't want to be there forever. She said she would never quit being a CNA if she could afford to take care of her family on those wages. It is awful that people who truly love the work are not able to do it because of these situations. I find it very sad that here we have found someone who loves every aspect of being a CNA and she is forced out of it. I think this can turn into stress for these people who are forced up the ladder and then have to take the responsibility and the work that goes with it that may not be what they truly want, but they can't figure out any other way to make a living doing patient care.

[RN4NICU, LPN, LVN]

I think that the biggest problem we face in nursing today is with the lack of cohesion within the profession. Without a unified vision and the will to work together to achieve that vision, we can not successfully resolve all the other issues that inevitably arise.

With a united profession and a shared vision, we can solve a lot of the problems. Without the unity and the vision, we are a bunch of squabbling, ineffective wannabees.

llg

Absolutely.

If nurses would support each other instead of sniping at each other, the other problems could be fixed by working together. As long as nursing continues to tear itself apart from within (which will probably be until the end of time), the problems will always be there.

[squeakykitty]

I'm just a student, but I think the main problem would be nurse to patient staffing ratio's and the CNA to patient/resident staffing ratios.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

In many areas, there are high patient:nurse staffing ratios, which translates to less time for each patient.

That's my main beef with the profession. Ratios. Ratios. Ratios.

There's plenty of research you can find to back up that ratios equals unsafe outcomes and burned out nurses.

Good luck on your paper!

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I think that the biggest problem we face in nursing today is with the lack of cohesion within the profession. Without a unified vision and the will to work together to achieve that vision, we can not successfully resolve all the other issues that inevitably arise.

With a united profession and a shared vision, we can solve a lot of the problems. Without the unity and the vision, we are a bunch of squabbling, ineffective wannabees.

llg

I agree.

My individual problem with nursing may be ratios, but looking at the profession globally, you've hit the nail on the head.

[catlady, BSN, RN]

I think the main problem in nursing is a refusal to recognize and reward the work of the people providing the basic level of nursing service - the CNA. When the nursing profession learns to accept the CNA as the first step of professional nursing and to provide a clear and affordable path of upward career mobility to all members who wish to pursue it, we will lose fewer nurses due to the burnout that comes from working in understaffed and unsafe environments.

I've worked in all-RN units. There were no CNAs or LPNs, only a unit clerk. I've worked in total patient care and primary nurse models where there might be one CNA for an entire unit. Without a doubt, the CNA is a valuable part of the nursing team, particularly in long-term care, and her work is often underappreciated, but she is not "the first step of professional nursing," any more than a medical assistant is the first step of professional medicine. The first step of professional nursing is the professional nurse, and that nurse has a license.

[catlady, BSN, RN]

--Unrealistic expectations and not merging the entry level requirement

smoothly. Diploma RN's should have been grandfathered in,

not required to get a BSN, but encouraged. The system has

set up competition instead of shared cooperation.

Nursing is the only field I know that has refused nurses with an

AD or diploma, and a BS in another field from getting a position.

Its interesting that nurses can receive an MBA, with no BS in Business.

The business schools honor the nursing education and experience.

Bowing in your general direction....

Yes, yes, yes!

[Plagueis]

That's my main beef with the profession. Ratios. Ratios. Ratios.

There's plenty of research you can find to back up that ratios equals unsafe outcomes and burned out nurses.

Good luck on your paper!

I totally agree. :) High ratios also affect us CNAs who are more exhausted and it means less time to care for residents/patients.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Main problem - having immense responsibility/ accountability but very little authority or "voice" in our practice environment.

[ICRN2008, BSN, RN]

Main problem - having immense responsibility/ accountability but very little authority or "voice" in our practice environment.

I agree with this statement completely. I also think that many nurses are afraid to use their voices because they are scared, intimidated, etc.

[mah_h]

hello

this problem is global .in position we say dont put in my heart because it is bloody.this is aproverb.

[blueyesue]

Thank you all for your replies. I have chosen a topic and will incorporate many ideas that I have recieved; so thank you.

The topic I picked is the nursing shortage. I will focus on the global impact, statistics, effects on the healthcare system, education issues and working conditions, and I will attempt to offer suggestions to help aleviate the problem.

In your opinion, how could we eliminate the nursing shortage?

Again, thank you soo much for your help.