Nursing Challenges
Throughout their careers, nurses face challenging situations when supporting patients and during their daily shifts.
The occupation comes with multiple hazards like battered emotional health, physical exhaustion, and balancing a personal life with extended hours. In 2020, the American Nurse Journal (ANJ) held a survey to discover the most difficult issues that nurses face.
The results ranged from struggling to perform their duties with limited supplies to an increased workload. Due to the nationwide pandemic, last year was a hectic time for everyone in healthcare.
Fortunately, the ANJ study showed that 85 percent of the questioned nurses said they were not considering a career change. Here is more about what the report revealed regarding the challenges that face nursing professionals.
ELEVATED RISK OF PERSONAL ILLNESS
As nurses faced patients with the highly contagious COVID-19 virus, the concern for their personal safety arose. Especially when supplies like masks and PPE were limited, nurses risked their lives to protect others’ health.
In addition to being at risk for contracting the virus, nurses also face physical ailments from patient lifting, exposure to chemicals and the potential for violence.
BULLYING
Healthcare professionals are often exposed to bullying and violence from coworkers and patients, and their families. These statistics from the ANJ study show how the workplace can become an intimidating experience for nursing experts.
• Thirty-nine percent of respondents reported having been verbally assaulted by another employee or healthcare provider;
• About 46 percent say they intervened when they witnessed workplace bullying;
• Fifty-four percent of the survey participants say they experienced verbal threats from patients;
• Approximately 51 percent of nurses who didn’t report the situation chose to ignore it because they felt the issue wouldn’t be resolved.
HIGHER STRESS LEVELS
While the projected growth for nursing positions is booming, the country is currently facing a healthcare professional shortage. The insufficient staffing is causing greater stress levels and dissatisfaction for those in the role.
The Nurse Journal reports that the lack of experts results in more extended hours or double shifts, which can lead to physical exhaustion.