Nursing shortage, a different challenge in Iran: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Workforce Studies
• Global Health Challenges

Background:

• The global health systems face a critical nursing shortage, necessitating international and country-specific analysis.
• Factors contributing to nursing shortages differ significantly between countries, impacting healthcare delivery.
• This study addresses the urgent need to understand and mitigate the nursing shortage crisis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically compare the causes of nursing shortages globally and within Iran.
• To identify and propose effective strategies for resolving nursing shortages in diverse healthcare settings.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for improving nursing workforce stability.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of nursing shortage literature was conducted.
• Databases in English and Persian were searched for studies published between 2000 and 2016.
• 32 relevant studies were selected from an initial pool of 537 articles for final analysis.

Main Results:

• Global nursing shortage causes include workforce aging, insufficient training, population aging, and job abandonment.
• In Iran, key factors are lack of desire to enter/remain in nursing, job abandonment, low salaries, and poor social perception.
• Proposed global solutions involve salary increases, improved work environments, public perception enhancement, and flexible schedules; Iran's strategies focus on recruitment, public perception, and organizational support.

Conclusions:

• Nursing shortages are complex issues with varying intensity and causes globally.
• Effective strategies for addressing nursing shortages must be tailored to the specific context of each country.
• Improving the retention of the existing nursing workforce is paramount for resolving shortages in Iran.