Understaffing in Nursing: Causes, Effects, Proposed Solutions Analysis

This report analyzes the critical issue of understaffing in nursing, defining it as an imbalance between the high demand for nurses and the available supply. It explores various causes, including faculty shortages, an increasing population, an aging workforce, and unfavorable working conditions. The report details the detrimental effects of understaffing, such as increased medical errors, mental health disorders among nurses, and a decline in the quality of patient care. It traces the history of the problem, highlighting past and current solutions and their ineffectiveness, such as wage increases and hiring foreign nurses. The report proposes educating more nurses through funding, addressing faculty shortages, and subsidizing fees as effective strategies to improve the situation. The conclusion emphasizes the urgency of addressing this public health threat, advocating for comprehensive strategies to increase the nursing workforce and improve healthcare outcomes.