HBO drama The Pitt Quickly attracted the attention of viewers everywhere, not only for its writing and its cast, but for its honest and honest representation of life within an emergency service in sub-employment. Although the scenarios are fictitious, many health workers who watch will tell you: it’s far too real.
Chaotic sorting scenes to the elderly who frequent the abolition of the hospital doctor to hire more nurses between cases of consecutive trauma,The PittRelax a mirror to the daily experiences of American health workers, in particular those of the first lines of the emergency rooms in our country. And in doing so, it highlights a labor crisis that we can no longer allow ourselves to ignore.
At Incroyable Health, we work with 1 million nurses and 1,500 health systems nationally. Our annual reports reflect thisThe PittDramatism: The nurses are overloaded, underestimated and work in situations where they are real physical danger. In our most recentreportIn the state of nursing, 88% of nurses say that staff shortages have a negative impact on patient care and that 63% are allocated to too many patients at the same time. Another investigation intoHealth managers have found that78% do not think they have staff whose staff had to manage a large -scale health crisis.
Risk for patients
The risk for patients is very real. Staff shortages oblige nurses to manage the unsustainable charges of patients, increasing the probability of missed symptoms, delayed care and professional exhaustion which pushes even more nurses to leave the profession. It is a vicious circle that makes us all less sure.
The PittAlso highlights the violence that health care workers face. Nurses and other health workers are harassed verbally, physically and emotionally exhausted, often with little support or institutional protection. Half of all nurses say they are verbally and / or physically assaulted by a patient or his family in the past year, and 26% say they are likely to leave their jobs because of this. The result is a growing feeling of fear and frustration that only accelerates the attrition of the profession. No one should have to choose between their safety and their call.
Nurses in crisis
WhatThe PittThis is fine, that’s what data have been telling us for years. Nurses are not only caregivers – they are part of the backbone of our health system. And they are in crisis. The repair of the shortage will not occur overnight, but there are clear steps that the leaders of the health system can take to support and keep their nurses, such as the prioritization of the hiring of permanent personnel instead of temporary nurses, offering possibilities of growth and training, offering flexible planning and fairly compensating for their staff.
It is just as important to meet the psychological challenges of work in a post -pandemic world – chronic stress, trauma and professional exhaustion which become too often invisible or not treated. Health systems must prioritize the safety and well-being of the workplace, not only to keep talents, but to honor the humanity of those who operate hospitals. This could include the establishment of zero tolerance policies for violence against health care workers, the support of legislation that establishes sanctions for violence against health care staff and establishing solid security plans for staff if violence occurs in the workplace. Patients and their families can also do their share, remembering that people who treat them are human beings. Extension of basic courtesy, kindness and patience is the right thing to do as health workers, work tirelessly to provide care.
At a time when public awareness can lead to a significant change, it is encouraging to see a cultural moment asThe PittStimulate conversations on the most urgent problems of health care. But awareness -raising must lead to action – for health workers who always appear every day and for patients whose life depends on it.
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