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Roupen Odabashian: Here are some factors contributing to the nursing shortage, drawn from personal experiences…

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Oct 10, 2023, 16:10

Roupen Odabashian: Here are some factors contributing to the nursing shortage, drawn from personal experiences…

Quoting Roupen Odabashian, Haematology-Oncology Fellow at Karmanos Cancer Institute, on LinkedIn:

”During my residency, a pattern quickly emerged: it was rare to cross paths with the same nurse in a ward during different rotations. Initially, I assumed this was just the ebb and flow of the nursing profession. However, as I learned more about the healthcare ecosystem, the harsh reality of high nursing turnover came to the fore, unveiling a sector rife with challenges.

Here are some factors contributing to the nursing shortage, drawn from personal experiences, heart-to-heart conversations with nurses, and a deep dive into research:

Travel Nursing: The idea of travel nursing popped up often during discussions about job transitions. This avenue not only brings a fresh change of scenery but also offers nurses a chance to quench their wanderlust, making it a highly attractive option.

Safe Working Environment: The facade of safety in hospitals crumbles when faced with the reality of occasional violence, often from agitated or disoriented patients. The lack of adequate security and support from the physician community leaves the nursing staff in a vulnerable spot, yearning for a safer workspace.

Support Deficit: The struggle is real when high patient-to-nurse ratios clash with the unavailability of physicians to provide necessary orders or address concerns. This lack of support leaves nurses feeling overwhelmed and unappreciated, significantly denting their morale and job satisfaction.

Regional Disparities: My observations in Ottawa and Windsor revealed a curious trend. Nurses often traveled to seemingly better facilities in Vancouver or even crossed borders to Detroit. It appeared that sometimes, better opportunities were just a 20-minute drive away, highlighting the stark regional disparities in job satisfaction and prospects.

Parental Leave Policies: The stark contrast between parental leave policies in Canada and the US also played a significant role. The more generous maternity and paternity leaves in Canada seemed to tip the scale, affecting employment decisions among nurses.”

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Source: Roupen Odabashian/LinkedIn