The global healthcare landscape is facing a formidable challenge: the nursing shortage crisis. According to the American Hospital Association, an estimated half a million nurses will leave the field by the end of this year, bringing the total shortage to 1.1 million. As hospitals and health systems grapple with the implications of this scarcity, entities like Shearwater Health stand at the forefront, offering innovative solutions to address this pressing issue.
Understanding the Nursing Shortage
Impact on Hospitals and Health Systems
The shortage of nurses echoes throughout healthcare facilities, profoundly affecting patient care and operational efficiency. Hospitals face the reality of compromised patient care due to overworked staff and an inability to meet the increasing demands for healthcare services. Administrative overload compounds these challenges, diverting attention away from bedside care and crucial patient interactions. Tina McCorkle, VP of Revenue Cycle Management at Shearwater Health, emphasizes this, stating, “The bedside nursing shortage and the impact it has on the hospitals, the health systems, and patient care are of our highest importance.”
Additionally, McCorkle highlights the strain on nurses due to administrative tasks, stating, “What is occurring is they’re spending such an enormous amount of time doing administrative tasks that it impacts bedside care.” Shearwater Health’s goal is to provide solutions that relieve clinical and administrative overload. Furthermore Shearwater enables bedside nurses to focus on patient care and working at peak of license. “That’s where Shearwater again comes into play where we can take some of the clinical and administrative functions away from the nurse and leave that person to focus on the important task of taking care of that bedside patient.”
Short- and Long-Term Ramifications
Beyond the immediate implications, the shortage holds long-term consequences. A recent study reported 610,388 registered nurses intend to leave the field by 2027, bringing the total shortage to 1.1 million. It strains the healthcare system’s sustainability, affecting quality of care and patient outcomes. Addressing this scarcity isn’t just about resolving immediate staffing issues. It’s about securing the future of healthcare delivery.
Shearwater Health’s Approach to Bridging the Gap
Global Delivery
Shearwater Health stands out with its global approach to creating fulfilling careers for those abroad. With nearly 30 million nurses worldwide, tapping into international talent pools helps facilitate the placement of skilled nurses in the United States, bridging the gap in bedside nursing while fulfilling the aspirations of healthcare professionals worldwide.
Bedside Nursing
Shearwater provides full financial sponsorship to nurses based in the Philippines and other international locations in taking their NCLEX exam (which allows them to practice nursing in the Unites States). After passing, Shearwater Health supports them with additional education through proprietary training academies and aids them through the immigration and hiring process, enabling them to become bedside nurses in the US.
Reducing Administrative Burden
To streamline operations and ease the administrative workload, Shearwater Health offers remote Clinical Process Outsourcing (CPO ®) solutions and administrative functions. These include coding, pre-authorization, credentialing, and virtual case management in international locations.
Collaborative Solutions for the Nursing Shortage
Short-Term Imperatives for Hospitals
Nurse recruiting, retention and attrition present big challenges in healthcare. As a result, hospitals must prioritize alleviating administrative burdens that contribute to nurse burnout and dissatisfaction. Collaborating with companies like Shearwater Health can be impactful in helping to redistribute tasks, optimize workflows, and enhance efficiency in care delivery.
Long-Term Strategies for Health Systems
Looking ahead, addressing the root causes of the shortage is imperative. Health systems must explore long-term solutions, focus on nurse retention, and invest in nursing education while fostering strategic partnerships with unique recruitment solutions and educational institutions. These efforts are vital for sustained progress in combating the shortage.
As the healthcare landscape evolves, Shearwater Health continues to stand as a testament to the transformative power of collaboration and innovation in addressing one of the most critical challenges facing the industry today.
