Milestone # 2: Draft Design for Change Assignment

Milestone # 2: Draft Design for Change Assignment

Introduction

Today's health care environment is facing the problem of shortage of nurses, which is considered as a global challenge. There are many problems that arise due to this shortage of nurses, while patients also have to suffer because of fewer nurses available to deal with the health needs (Littlejohn et.al. 2012). The HRSA 2006 report suggests that the shortage of nurses will increase to more than 1 million by the end of the year 2020 in the US. The problem of shortage of nurses is well documented in literature and it is also found from evidence that the nursing school's inability to provide with faculty contributes to the shortage (Oulten, 2006). In this regard, plan for change is required which would include devising policies that offer a sustainable and enduring solution. This plan would require increasing pay for nurses and nursing faculty to attract more aspiring people to this profession and in increasing enrollment by ensuring the availability of nursing school faculty.

Change Plan

Recent literature and reports have identified nursing shortage to be a problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible because of the magnitude of the shortage. Apart from the global shortage of nurses, studies have also indicated towards the shortage of availability of a qualified faculty to teach in nursing schools. This shortage of nurses is affecting adversely on patient care and safety since due to shortage of nurses, those available have to serve long working hours while less time and attention for each patient (Carayan & Gurses, 2008). This heavy workload then contributes to nurses experiencing stress and burnout which in turn may lead to errors in decision making and dissatisfaction with their jobs. It may also effect on their performance, monitoring of patients, having communication with physicians and patient, and increase the chance of nurses avoiding rules and regulations, thereby affecting the quality and safety of patient care (Carayan & Gurses, 2008). Hence, keeping in consideration the effects of the shortage of nurses, it is required that further investigation and appropriate intervention is taken so that there is an increase of workforce and an international health crisis can also be prevented. This intervention will primarily include an increase in pay for nurses and nursing faculty in order to drive people to this profession which will ultimately help in not only ...