World views on shortage in nursing resource: Challenges and opportunities

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Global Health
• Nursing Workforce Studies

Background:

• The global nursing resource shortage stems from insufficient nurses, high patient volumes, and increased workloads, impacting healthcare quality worldwide.
• Disparities in the nursing shortage's extent exist between high-income and low-income countries.
• An international perspective is vital for addressing challenges and enhancing healthcare worker safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To facilitate international experience exchange on the global nursing resource shortage.
• To share national challenges and strategies for addressing nursing shortages from diverse countries.

Main Methods:

• An international online conference was convened.
• Presentations featured speakers from Germany, the Philippines, Poland, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Discussions included national healthcare systems, nurse-to-bed ratios, and nursing education.

Main Results:

• Key challenges identified include high nurse vacancy rates, war and refugee crises, high infection rates (e.g., HIV), and nurse migration.
• Reported solutions encompass international recruitment, nurse-attracting initiatives (e.g., Magnet hospitals), and improved employment conditions (higher wages, career advancement, enhanced education).

Conclusions:

• The nursing resource shortage is a pervasive global issue.
• Continuous global cooperation, communication, and knowledge exchange among nursing managers and researchers are essential for addressing this challenge.