NURS 6053 Assignment: Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue

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NURS 6053 Assignment: Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue – Step-by-Step Guide

The first step before starting to write the NURS 6053 Assignment: Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue, it is essential to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment. 

It is also important to identify the audience of the paper and its purpose so that it can help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, you should review its use, such as writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review how to format the title page and the headings in the paper.

How to Research and Prepare for NURS 6053 Week 2 Assignment: Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue

The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify the list of keywords from your topic using different combinations. The first step is to visit the university library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last words and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, for example, in APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list. 

You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching about. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next you should create a detailed outline of the paper so that it can help you to create headings and subheadings to be used in the paper. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.

How to Write the Introduction for NURS 6053 Assignment: Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue

The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part as it helps to provide the context of your work, and will determine if the reader will be interested to read through to the end. You should start with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.

How to Write the Body for NURS 6053 Assignment: Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue

The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence conducted from the research, ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance and how it connects to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between each paragraph by using transition words and a flow of ideas.

How to Write the In-text Citations for NURS 6053 Assignment: Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue

In-text citations help the reader to give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their works. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:

The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Smith (2021), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Johnson and Brown (2020) highlight that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.

How to Write the Conclusion for NURS 6053 Assignment: Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue

When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restarting your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper, by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. End with a call to action that leaves a lasting impact on the reader or recommendations.

How to Format the Reference List for NURS 6053 Assignment: Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue

The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded, in sentence sentence care. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication. 

Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:

References

Johnson, L. M., & Brown, R. T. (2020). The role of telehealth in improving patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 35(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000456

Smith, J. A. (2021). The impact of technology on nursing practice. Health Press.

NURS 6053 Week 2 Assignment: Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue Instructions

The Quadruple Aim provides broad categories of goals to pursue to maintain and improve healthcare. Within each goal are many issues that, if addressed successfully, may have a positive impact on outcomes. For example, healthcare leaders are being tasked to shift from an emphasis on disease management often provided in an acute care setting to health promotion and disease prevention delivered in primary care settings. Efforts in this area can have significant positive impacts by reducing the need for primary healthcare and by reducing the stress on the healthcare system.

Changes in the industry only serve to stress what has always been true; namely, that the healthcare field has always faced significant challenges, and that goals to improve healthcare will always involve multiple stakeholders. This should not seem surprising given the circumstances. Indeed, when a growing population needs care, there are factors involved such as the demands of providing that care and the rising costs associated with healthcare. Generally, it is not surprising that the field of healthcare is an industry facing multifaceted issues that evolve over time.

In this module’s Discussion, you reviewed some healthcare issues/stressors and selected one for further review. For this Assignment, you will consider in more detail the healthcare issue/stressor you selected. You will also review research that addresses the issue/stressor and write a white paper to your organization’s leadership that addresses the issue/stressor you selected.

To Prepare:

  • Review the national healthcare issues/stressors presented in the Resources and reflect on the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected for study.
  • Reflect on the feedback you received from your colleagues on your Discussion post for the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected.
  • Identify and review two additional scholarly resources (not included in the Resources for this module) that focus on change strategies implemented by healthcare organizations to address your selected national healthcare issue/stressor.

Also read:

NURS 6053 Assignment: Personal Leadership Philosophies

NURS 6053 Discussion: Workplace Environment Assessment

NURS 6053 Discussion: Organizational Policies and Practices to Support Healthcare Issues

The Assignment (3-4 Pages):

Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue

Develop a 3- to 4-page paper, written to your organization’s leadership team, addressing your selected national healthcare issue/stressor and how it is impacting your work setting. Be sure to address the following:

  • Describe the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected and its impact on your organization. Use organizational data to quantify the impact (if necessary, seek assistance from leadership or appropriate stakeholders in your organization).
  • Provide a brief summary of the two articles you reviewed from outside resources on the national healthcare issue/stressor. Explain how the healthcare issue/stressor is being addressed in other organizations.
  • Summarize the strategies used to address the organizational impact of national healthcare issues/stressors presented in the scholarly resources you selected. Explain how they may impact your organization both positively and negatively. Be specific and provide examples.

Looking Ahead

The paper you develop in Module 1 will be revisited and revised in Module 2. Review the Assignment instructions for Module 2 to prepare for your revised paper.

By Day 7 of Week 2

Submit your paper.

NURS 6053 Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue Sample Paper

National Healthcare Issue

The shortage of workforce in the health sector is one problem that continues to plague the United States. While Registered Nurses form the largest group of care providers in the country, their shortage persist as only about sixty percent practice in public hospitals. This shortage is projected to worsen further through 2022 with the current system of healthcare in the country (American Nurses Association, n.d.) owing to the anticipated retirement of the currently available workforce and advancing ages of baby boomers.

The quadruple aim has been promoted to improve the provisions of the tipple aim that advocated for improvement in population health, individual care experience, and healthcare cost reduction. The quadruple aim adds the improvement of healthcare provider’s experience as another objective to the triple aim (Valaitis et al., 2020).

In fact, Park et al. (2018) notes that it is possible to improve the providers’ experience by promoting the caregiver’s joy at work and providing meaning to their work experience. Therefore, the shortage of workforce can only prevent the achievement of the quadruple aim through enhancing nurse stress at the workplace.

Workplace stress will imminently worsen the already existing shortage of healthcare workforce. The increasing need for primary care due to the increasing prevalence of chronic disease necessitates balancing the nurse-to-patient ratio (Pittman & Scully-Russ, 2016). The inclusion of other strategies by other organizations has proved to be a great solution to the workforce shortage and workplace stress and emotional distress of nursing care providers.

Impact on My Practice Setting

My health organization is not spared by the low nurse-to-patient ratio. The recommended country average ratio of nurse to clients is 1:5 while in my organization, this ratio is lower in various departments. This has caused delayed shift reporting, increased medical errors, increased nurse fatigue, and deterioration in nurse’s mental health. While some nurses have transferred from the organization, others have increased their shift duration to cover for the shortage.

Workload stress has been evident through depression and anxiety among workers, workplace conflicts and incivility, and increased delegation of duties to other junior practitioners. Early retirement of some of the most experienced nurses has also been observed. This trend has also been encountered in nursing practice in some countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada (MacPhee, Dahinten, & Havaei, 2017). The ultimate consequences are compromised professional standards and constant depreciation in care quality.

Research Articles Review

Management of workload-related stress among nurses involves interventional strategies employed at the national, organizational, and personal levels. Herr et al. (2018) conducted a study on the long-term effectiveness of work stress management strategies employed among 101 male industrial workers. The study assessed the outcome of stress management on the subjects’ mental health and sleep quality at the end of the observation time.

The intervention focused mainly on alterations in reactivity to stressors at work, such as social conflicts, workload, work stress, and anticipatory reactivity. The study established that reduction in reactivity to social stress had long-term positive benefits on reduction of depression, anxiety, and sleep problems.

A study by Havermans et al. (2018), on the other hand, investigated the need for stress prevention strategies among employees and workplace supervisors in various organizational sectors such as finance, services industry, and health care. In this focused group discussion study, researchers guided 7 employees and 8 supervisors in expressing their experiences and opinion about their needs in work-related stress prevention. The emergent themes were analyzed and four main subthemes necessary to prevent stress in the workplace emerged, namely communication, social support, stakeholders’ involvement, and availability of preventive measures.

Summaries of the Strategies in Addressing Organizational Impacts of Workload due to Workforce Shortage

The national government should be at the forefront in preventing organizational consequences of nursing workforce shortage. The federal and state governments, through their departments of health, should empower nurse educators to train more nurses to cover for the deficit resulting from retirement and increase in nurse-patient ratio resulting from high care demand associated with increased prevalence of chronic conditions.

However, organizational strategies are also critical in curbing the impacts of increased workload such as work-related stress and deterioration in quality. Prevention of anticipated work-related stress and management of already evident stress requires input from the nurses and the administration, including supervisors.

Modification of workers’ responses should form the basis in managing work-related stress due to increased workload. According to Herr et al. (2018), modifications in nurses’ reactivity to stressors have long-term benefits in managing workplace stress. The reduction in depression, anxiety, and conflicts such as workplace incivility were significant outcomes following the implementation of workplace stress management strategies.

Proper communication strategies, the involvement of all stakeholders in creating a favorable environment, and availability of functional social support would confer more advantages in preventing work-related stress in situations of anticipated increase in workload (Havermans et al., 2018). The effectiveness of these strategies had been shown through evidence-based practice.

Conclusion

Work-related stress among nurses is a national stressor that results from increased workload due to low average nurse to patient ratio. However, the organizational impact is preventable through well-executed strategies. It is possible to manage impacts such as nurse depression, anxiety, and conflicts through the participation of nurse leaders and nurses. Such strategies can be very specific to every organization depending on the structural arrangements. However, the major concepts include proper communication and inter-stakeholder collaboration and involvement.

NURS 6053 Assignment: Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue References

  • American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Workforce. Nursingworld.Org. Retrieved March 5, 2021, from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/workforce/
  • Havermans, B. M., Brouwers, E. P. M., Hoek, R. J. A., Anema, J. R., van der Beek, A. J., & Boot, C. R. L. (2018). Work stress prevention needs of employees and supervisors. BMC Public Health, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5535-1
  • Herr, R., Barrech, A., Riedel, N., Gündel, H., Angerer, P., & Li, J. (2018). Long-term effectiveness of stress management at work: Effects of the changes in perceived stress reactivity on mental health and sleep problems seven years later. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(2), 255. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15020255
  • MacPhee, M., Dahinten, V., & Havaei, F. (2017). The impact of heavy perceived nurse workloads on patient and nurse outcomes. Administrative Sciences, 7(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci7010007
  • Park, B., Gold, S. B., Bazemore, A., & Liaw, W. (2018). How evolving United States payment models influence primary care and its impact on the Quadruple Aim. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine: JABFM, 31(4), 588–604. https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2018.04.170388
  • Pittman, P., & Scully-Russ, E. (2016). Workforce planning and development in times of delivery system transformation. Human Resources for Health, 14(1), 56. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-016-0154-3
  • Valaitis, R. K., Wong, S. T., MacDonald, M., Martin-Misener, R., O’Mara, L., Meagher-Stewart, D., Isaacs, S., Murray, N., Baumann, A., Burge, F., Green, M., Kaczorowski, J., & Savage, R. (2020). Addressing quadruple aims through primary care and public health collaboration: ten Canadian case studies. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 507. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08610-y

NURS 6053 Assignment: Analysis of a Pertinent Healthcare Issue Example 2

Addressing Nursing Shortages in Our Healthcare Organization

The healthcare institution is currently facing a deteriorating deficit of nurses and nurse managers, a trend that has been observed nationwide in recent years. This ongoing and escalating shortage of nursing professionals is unparalleled in the annals of modern healthcare (Tamata & Mohammadnezhad, 2023). Within our organization, seasoned nurses have exited the profession due to retirement or career transitions, leaving behind vacancies that the remaining nurses and leaders have struggled to fill (Broome & Marshall, 2021). 

This challenge is exacerbated by the absence of nursing education opportunities in baccalaureate nursing programs and the lack of experience among potential candidates for these open positions. As Beitz (2019) note, the scarcity of academic nursing education programs in the United States has been a persistent issue since the early 1970s. The purpose of this paper is to explain evidence-based strategies to curb the nursing shortage and how the strategies can be applied to our institution. 

Two Outside Articles and How Issue is Addressed in Other Organizations

The issue of nursing shortages has been a long-standing challenge, and its effects on our institution are reflected in various important indicators (Baker, 2022). Based on our internal records, there has been a 15% rise in nurse-to-patient ratios in the last year, resulting in heavier workloads and possible risks to patient safety. Furthermore, there has been a 20% surge in burnout and discontentment among nursing staff, impacting overall staff morale per the survey done three months ago.

Two reputable sources have provided insights into how different organizations are addressing the nursing shortage problem. The initial article, authored by Ma et al. (2022), focuses on “Innovative Staffing Solutions for Nursing Shortages.” It examines the impact of a newly implemented therapeutic staffing model at the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT). The article identifies several themes among the staff, including shift patterns, ward duties/workload, and morale. While the new model shows promise, it also highlights certain issues. The article suggests recommendations to enhance team cohesiveness, foster a sense of value, and strengthen professional identities. 

The second article, published by NSI Nursing Solutions, Inc. in 2021, is a report on national healthcare retention and RN staffing. According to this article, one measurable indicator of the severity of a hospital’s vacancy rate is the utilization of contract labor and overtime. The management should not perceive contract labor costs as mere operating expenses but rather incorporate them into the position control system. A more accurate understanding of the direct labor cost can be obtained by including these costs within the payroll cost line.

Strategies to Address Organizational Impact and the Positive/Negative Impact in Our Organization

The scholarly resources provide valuable strategies that could greatly benefit our organization. One such strategy is the flexible therapeutic staffing model introduced by Kent and Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust, which outlines staffing levels for each service line and ward (Ma et al., 2022). This model emphasizes the importance of flexible rotas, career development for healthcare workers, and safe staffing through therapeutic models involving various disciplines. This model allows our organization to manage patient loads, especially during peak times, effectively.

Implementing strategies aimed at retaining employees, as suggested by NSI Nursing Solutions, Inc. (2021), has the potential to enhance job satisfaction and decrease burnout within our nursing team. To enhance the financial performance of our hospital, it is imperative to focus on enhancing our ability to retain staff, addressing vacancy rates, strengthening recruitment efforts, and managing labor costs effectively. The establishment and maintenance of a high-quality workforce are crucial for successfully managing the challenges associated with staffing.

The healthcare system faces mounting pressure due to the growing general population and aging population, leading to a higher demand for health services and, subsequently, nurses. While these strategies have their advantages, it is vital to acknowledge the potential challenges they pose. For example, the upfront costs of introducing new staffing models or retention programs could put a strain on our financial resources. Additionally, resistance to change from current staff members could impede the effective execution of these initiatives.

Conclusion

One of the most critical challenges facing our organization is the shortage of nurses, which has a significant impact on our overall well-being. To address this challenge and ensure the smooth functioning of our operations, we need to adopt effective strategies that can help us attract and retain nursing staff. These strategies can be sourced from presented external sources.

Customizing these strategies to suit the organizational environment is also important, as it can help the organization achieve the desired outcomes and meet the unique needs of staff and patients. By investing in effective strategies, the organization can create an environment that supports the growth and development of our nursing staff, resulting in improved patient outcomes and overall organizational success.

References

Baker, D. W. (2022). Addressing the nursing shortage in the United States: An interview with Dr. Peter Buerhaus. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 48(5), 298–300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjq.2022.02.006

Beitz, J. M. (2019). Addressing the perioperative nursing shortage through education: A perioperative imperative. AORN Journal, 110(4), 403–414. https://doi.org/10.1002/aorn.12805

Broome, M., & Marshall, E. S. (2021). Transformational leadership in nursing: From expert clinician to influential leader. Springer. https://books.google.com/books?id=jkC9DwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Ma, E., Kritsimali, A., Olby-Clements, B., Boyd, K., & Demirbasa, B. (2022). Innovative staffing solutions to nursing shortages in acute mental health inpatient wards. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 43(2), 103–110. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2021.1961331

NSI Nursing Solutions, Inc. (2021). 2021 NSI national health care retention & RN staffing report. http://www.nsinursingsolutions.com/Documents/Library/NSI_National_Health_Care_Retention_Report.pdf

Tamata, A. T., & Mohammadnezhad, M. (2023). A systematic review study on the factors affecting the shortage of nursing workforce in the hospitals. Nursing Open, 10(3), 1247–1257. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1434