Application of world class service to world class nursing

U.S. nursing is in trouble. These numerous and multidimensional troubles include general job dissatisfaction, low morale, a severe nurse shortage, a high turnover rate, and a rapid cost increase. A brief study of the healthcare industry in other industrialized nations revealed that those nations do not face the same problems or at least their problems are not as severe. More specifically, the Japanese nursing industry has no shortage. This article addresses some of the United State's nursing problems and presents some solutions from World Class Service concepts to those problems. The concepts of flexible scheduling, simplification of processes and standardization, on-the-job training, employee involvement, and team building are discussed in the context of World Class Nursing. Finally, the importance of regarding all of the above mentioned concepts as an integral part of healthcare improvement efforts is emphasized.