Empowering the profession
We need to elevate the nursing profession to stop the bleed .
By Robert Nieves
I
started my nursing career 30 years ago in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit ward . During that time I saw how my role as a nurse impacted patient lives . These experiences have motivated me to give my all to support those in the nursing profession . As the global health crisis continues to affect different countries , it is concerning to see my fellow nurses overwhelmed to the point that they are considering leaving the profession altogether .
In Australia , 61 per cent of health care workers have reported burnout and 28 per cent are experiencing symptoms of depression . Inevitably , this will impact the quality of patient care that they deliver . To help nurses keep up with the rising demands of the profession , they need better support and access to the latest training to perform their jobs well .
Nurses make up the largest healthcare workforce in Australia and are the lifeline of our healthcare system . Yet , it is estimated that there will be shortage of over 100,000 nurses by 2025 .
Empowering nurses to develop their leadership potential One of the biggest challenges facing nurses is the lack of empowerment , which is more prevalent in developing countries . Nurses who do not feel engaged often feel unhappy , unmotivated , or underappreciated in their roles . This often results in them leaving the profession or practising in more progressive countries which they believe will provide them with better career opportunities .
Having an empowered nursing workforce can greatly benefit the Australian healthcare system in times of crisis . Nurses are well entrenched in the hospital systems and are capable of taking on more responsibilities and being more involved to drive better patient outcomes . Empowering nurses to take charge will not only elevate the skills of the nursing workforce but will also help free up clinicians ’ time so they can provide more critical care for complex cases .
The nursing profession in Australia has undergone significant expansion , with considerable investments made by the government to train and develop the professional competencies of nurses . By doing so , nurses are expected to provide a high standard of care that incorporates research and innovation , enabling them to take on more leadership roles . Ultimately , empowering nurses through expanded skills and knowledge will help advance the profession while attracting and retaining talent .
Supporting nurses from bench to bedside Many new nurses feel overwhelmed by the volume of urgent clinical decisions that they need to make , and do not always feel confident or fully prepared when making them .
The healthcare workforce was already stretched thin before the pandemic . Now , even the most seasoned nurses are finding it increasingly difficult to help train and support new nurses as they continue to provide urgent care for patients . Technology needs to be leveraged as a form of support for nurses as it provides them with credible , accurate , and accessible information to deliver highquality patient care .
Clinician decision support tools can be integrated with existing electronic health record systems to provide evidence-based guidance that is aligned with the care planning workflow . This empowers nurses with actionable knowledge that supports their patients .
Additionally , nurses should have access to a central resource that provides quick access to information that can help bridge the gap from the classroom to the clinical setting . Elsevier launched its COVID-19 Healthcare Hub , an online resource repository with evidencebased research and information on COVID-19 that is accessible to healthcare professionals worldwide . The Hub provides complementary information such as care plans and procedure videos , along with guidelines and research materials , even vaccination toolkits for nurses . These tools and resources are empowering nurses to make efficient , evidence-based clinical decisions for better patient outcomes .
Adopting technology to drive the future of nursing The future of healthcare is one that will largely be driven by innovative technologies , and those advancements will help overcome the challenges nurses are facing while helping to transform the way they deliver care . In 2020 , The Australian Digital Health Agency ( ADHA ) announced the launch of a new professional development program , which identifies the core digital health capabilities that nurses need to develop to improve the quality , safety and efficiency of their care .
An important element for the success of the program is digital literacy – or being able to understand and use the latest technology-driven solutions . Investing in evidence-based competency programs can promote adoption of technologies to assist with nursing workflows , ensuring that nurses are carrying out their responsibilities according to the latest clinical and organizational standards .
It is critical that the industry examines how we can elevate the profession and empower nurses through technology . By doing so , we will help curb the turnover in the profession and encourage future nurses to join this honourable and rewarding industry . ■
Robert Nieves is the vice president of Health Informatics , Clinical Solutions , Elsevier .
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