Change Proposal for Nursing Shortage in Health Care

Running head: NURING SHORTAGE 1
Change Proposal for Nursing Shortage in Health Care
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

NURING SHORTAGE 2
Background
The nursing shortage is a growing concern in the health care sector, with several
health care institutions facing the issue. Poor management and administration are recognized
to be on the major factors leading to nursing burnout, forcing the nurses to leave the
profession and create a nursing shortage. The nursing shortage in the geriatrics care
department can lead to severe consequences and is one of the most significant issues in the
broad category of the nursing shortage. The geriatrics department requires the highest
standards of accountability on behalf of health care providers and the adequate availability of
nursing professionals. According to Flaherty & Bartels (2019), nursing professionals are
essential stakeholders that strengthen the health care provisions within the continuum of care.
The authors state that by the year 2025, the demand for geriatricians will increase by 45%,
which can potentially create a geriatrician workforce shortage of over 27,000 professionals.
Problem Statement
Nursing workforce shortage in geriatrics care settings can increase the risk of negative
health outcomes and patient safety. As the primary subjects in the ward are old, they require
extensive support to follow their medication prescription and perform activities of daily
living. In the absence of an adequate workforce, an increase in the incidence of medication
errors or misuse falls and other health consequences such as the incidence of pressure ulcers
(Holveck & Wick, 2018). With a higher prevalence of nursing shortage, there is an increase
in the burden amongst the remaining workforce, which leads to quick burnout and refraining
the nursing professionals from properly attend the older patients in the geriatrics ward.
Purpose of the Change Proposal
The primary objective of the project is to propose solutions and interventions that can
effectively address the problem of nursing shortage in the geriatrics department. The paper

NURING SHORTAGE 3
will critically analyze the proposed interventions and check their efficacy in the suggested
health care settings.
PICOT
Population
The target population for this research project is the adult patient groups in the
geriatrics ward requiring immediate assistance from health care professionals. The chosen
population requires the highest standards of assistance and aid from the nurses to restore their
health, and the nursing shortage can highly influence the health outcome and safety of adult
patients.
Intervention
The practice of integration of nursing preceptor program in the geriatrics department
of the health care institution. A nursing preceptor is a competent and experiences nurse,
serving as a role model for the new graduate nurses, student nurses or newly employed
nursing staff. The program will provide the experienced registered nurses with tools to help
the new members experience and develop as a competent registered nurse.
Comparison
To evaluate the efficacy of the intervention, a comparison will be drawn among the
patients who are attended by nursing professionals enrolled in the nursing preceptor program
and patients attended by nurses not participating in the nursing preceptor program.
Outcome
Patients attended by nursing professionals enrolled in a nursing preceptor program
show better health outcomes with increased satisfaction towards the health care services
provided to them. The retention rate of nurses from the health care settings increasing post-
intervention of the nursing preceptor program.