Overworked Medical Staff: Ethical and Practical Considerations

This essay addresses the critical issue of overworked medical staff, a persistent global problem endangering healthcare quality. The author, a nursing professional, analyzes the negative impacts of excessive workloads on healthcare professionals, including nurses, and the detrimental effects on their health and patient outcomes. The essay explores the ethical dimensions of this issue, referencing moral theology and Catholic teachings, particularly the principles of human dignity and the common good. It highlights the need for flexible working hours, reduced workloads, and recognition of staff contributions. Furthermore, the essay emphasizes the importance of advocacy, community engagement, and global cooperation to address the challenges of overworked medical staff, proposing practical solutions and advocating for a healthier work environment for healthcare professionals. The essay also emphasizes the need for hospital administrators to meet the requirements of the staff and the need for them to be aware of their basic rights.

Running head: Overworked medical staff
Overworked medical staff
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There has been tremendous pressure on hospital staff and are overworked. This has
impacted their health very badly and the health outcome is also being hampered. The problem
of overworked hospital staff is persistent globally and putting the quality of health care in
danger. This pressure and workload hampers the growth of the staff and this must be realised
immediately to counteract the problem (Abraham et al., 2018). This workload puts additional
pressure to the staff members which means limited time also. According to WHO a healthy
workforce consists of flexible timings and less workload so that the workers can use their
time and utilise it accordingly. Moral theology and catholic teachings addresses the issue with
more logical view from the point of human dignity. With this knowledge of common
principles we would be able to understand and solve the issues faced by clinical
administrators.
Chronic exhaustion and inefficacy has been common these days among the hospital
staff members due to improper rest and irregular life activities. Health specialists like nurses
are often underpaid and their value is not given much importance, this kind of value related
issues has added to the stress of health workers and quality of the work force (Alenezi,
Aboshaiqah & Baker, 2018). There must be constant recognition of their work to influence
them in providing the best health care to the patient. Many health workers are devoid of basic
freedom to work in the hospitals due to these kind of work load. The social encyclidals of
church believe in faith as the motive of reasoning the inhuman practices and to address the
social problems. Human dignity has been always the top priority in social teachings of
catholic views. According to their teachings medical staffs need to take the responsibility of
their duty but that must not interfere with their social life which centres around their family.
Every person has the right to live and this applies to everyone irrespective of their profession
The issue of overworking health workers need special attention and immediate need
to address the issue. There must be proper guidelines by responsible authorities to check that

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there can be stricter rules to evaluate the process. The health workers must be aware of their
basic rights and enjoy the benefit of flexible working. Their mental health is also being
affected due to pressure. It is an important concern because this would result in decreasing
care to patients and the health scenario may get in danger. There is a need of relaxation for
every human being and if this is not provided the work quality also get decreased, so
hospitals must ensure that they ensure benefits in the form of holidays to the staff members
(Alghamdi, 2016). According to the teachings of Catholics and common goods it has to be
ensured that that every person enjoys the right of dignity, otherwise there may be disruption
in the environment and their capacity to grow as human. Every kind of work is like serving
the god, there must be protection for basic rights of human, and this applies to the health
workers. Advocacy and community management would help to address the issue both locally
and globally. Globally also the situation is posing a great threat to health sector. Catholic
teachings and using the basic principle would impart a self reliance on health professionals.
The agency of the employer must ensure to look after the plight of nurses who are
tired and fatigued and it is emotionally not possible for them to take care of the patients.
Healthy work environment must be ensured to them and this would encourage them to work
in extreme conditions if provided with better work place. The hospital staffs must be ensured
that the nurses are not overworked otherwise there may be hazardous effects in health
scenario (Aydin et al., 2015). Health sector and jobs related to it is a form of worship which
deals with the care of patients and more workload would result in forced care that is against
the principle of solidity. Solidity is one of the important teachings and functions in
Christianity beliefs and dishonouring is believed to bring down the quality of goodness.
There is a supreme believe that work must be worshipped and enjoyed to enjoy a perfect
balance of social relationship in the earth. This believes cannot be ignored as they comprise
of various ethical dimensions for a suitable work environment.

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The nurses must be given complete authority to select their job and the share of
responsibilities. The extra workload given to nurses are paving an unhealthy environment in
the hospital for both patient and hospital staff. The nurses are the backbone of the health
service and there must be proper implementation of basic rights to the nurses and health
workers. There must be fixed amount of hour assigned to their work and if a nurse is assigned
to an emergency work it must be ensured that the next day is holiday for them (Coventry,
Maslin‐Prothero & Smith, 2015). Catholic vision of reality help to understand the core issues
related to human choice and dignity, which can reflect upon good practices. In administrative
clinical roles the social teachings provided by the Christian thoughts aid in decision making
and patient care process. The teachings are based on old principles but reflects on common
practices and issues faced by human being. Contemporary issues like political and social
thoughts are deeply influenced by these social teachings and the issue of overworked medical
staff can be resolved by following the guidelines provided by Christian and catholic themes.
According to the teachings, medical staffs must get more freedom to choose their care plan
and must not be burden with work.
Health specialist like nurses or other staffs are the backbone of health service and are
most essential part of health care. Therefore it is the duty of the hospital to ensure them the
basic benefits which gives them freedom to enjoy a healthy workforce. Overworked medical
staffs are dangerous to health care and its quality (Nelson, 2017). There must be humble
approach from hospital administrator to meet the requirements otherwise, it may hamper the
care plan. In this process, catholic teachings would be able to guide through the process. The
critical analysis states that there is a need of making use of the knowledge of common good
principles to lower the burden of overworked medical staff.

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