By Kathryn Ruscitto
I was recently asked to moderate a panel in NYC sponsored by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, on the shortage in the nursing workforce.
Leaders from a variety of settings discussed the challenges facing nursing and the opportunities to improve recruitment and retention.
The Center for Workforce Studies specifically detailed options to address recruitment ranging from scholarships, and tuition assistance to nursing residencies, and mentors. Among retentions strategies were nursing councils within programs like Magnet and Pathways to Excellence.
Clearly the demand for nurses is increasing and the challenges facing nurses are also increasing.
The issue that struck me the most listening to this panel was the dramatic increase in workplace violence. Many public facing employees in our society have seen an increase in violence, health professionals are seeing that same increase. There are no easy answers, but there are many research projects that have looked at the issues and have detailed violence prevention programs and interventions. Public Health Services have identified the same process model to be used across all violence prevention in areas from domestic violence to health care.
Fig. 1: 10 Essential Public Health Services
Currently the focus in most health settings is on training for assessing and managing risks, leading to reporting and assigning resources for the most at risk patients. One of the clearest messages from the panel was on leaders placing a priority on training, and reporting.
It is also not just nurses facing these challenges, but all those who are part of the health care team. Violence prevention training must be part of all onboarding and communications across the team must be ongoing.
Resolving conflict avoids violence and is a skill to learn for all aspects of life. Take any training offered and look for resources on conflict resolution, violence prevention, and policies. Syracuse University offers unique training through PARCC, the Program for the Advancement of Colloboration and Conflict Resolution. https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/research/program-for-the-advancement-research-on-conflict-collaboration
Health professionals need our advocacy and support in bringing attention to these challenges. While we all must focus on first preventing violence, when it occurs action needs to be taken to protect health professionals in all settings.
Resources:
Center for Workforce Studies
NIH
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9536186/
Journal of Emergency Nursing
https://www.jenonline.org/article/S0099-1767(23)00059-4/fulltext