Edith Gonzalez - Nursing

    Every day, a patient in a clinic waits for a nurse and oftentimes they find none. Across the globe, nursing is at its breaking point, and yet it remains key to a functioning healthcare system. According to the World Health Organization, there are 29.8 million nurses worldwide yet there is a shortage of 5.8 million, specifically in lower and middle-income countries. 

    The consequence of understaffing extended far beyond delayed care. It has affected nurses personally. Nurse burnout, fuelled by high workloads, and systemic neglect, is pervasive. In a meta-analysis of 85 studies including nearly 298,000 nurses, burnout was associated significantly with lower patient safety, medical errors, and lower patient satisfaction. This burnout undermines nurse retention, mental health, and their performance in the field. Performance that is necessary for patients' well-being.  


How can this be resolved? To begin with, health systems must invest in nursing education, fair pay, and safer staffing ratios. The International Council of Nurses has called the nursing crisis a global health emergency. This is a warning and a sign that without urgent investment, the shortage could swell 13 million by 2030. Moreover, interventions to reduce burnout such as, improved work scheduling, mental health support, and stronger leadership have all shown to better performance between nurses and patients. 


Nurses are more than just caregivers; they are guardians of health equity. In order to safeguard global health, we must center the nurse. Not just as a workforce number, but as a critical leader, partner, and human being. 


About the Author:

Hi! My name is Edith and I’m a senior at North Hollywood High school. I am passionate about

helping others and learning more about the medical field. My goal is to become a nurse and

continue learning how to support people in meaningful ways both in my community and beyond.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Andreah Falame - Neurology

Image
  Understanding Neurological Disorders: The Brain, Nervous System, and Common Disorders Andreah Falame Neurology is the branch of study in the medical field that focuses primarily on the brain, spinal cord, and the nervous system. The nervous system is a significant system that controls everything we do. From thinking and feeling to moving and sensing the world around us. The study of neurology is an emerging field that continues to advance in more personalized treatments for patients that are battling neurological disorders.   The field of neurology circles on 3 main parts of the nervous system. Starting off with the brain, the brain is known to be a complex organ that serves to process various information. With its ability to send signals throughout different areas of the body, it leads to the works of the spinal cord. The spinal cord carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. With the help of the nerves, the nerves transmit signals to and from the bra...
Read more

Neurology - Shanta’e Taylor

Image
  Highlighting the Global Healthcare Issues In Neurology. Neurology is the branch of medicine associated with the diagnosis and treatment of the nervous system, encompassing the brain and spinal cord. Furthermore, neurology is a paramount medical concern as it integrates physical and mental health, grasping how we behave, theorize, and recognize neurological health disorders that control our daily lives. Most importantly, everything starts with the brain — it makes us capable of functioning, executing daily habits and conversing with the people we love. Our brain should be calm, safe, and healthy. However, due to circumstances in the healthcare system, this is a privilege, rather than a basic need. In fact, this shapes the reality of many deployed soldiers, and Palestinian citizens suffering from chronic Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease. MS occurs in the central nervous system, where the body accidentally attacks itself.  Moreover, due to the low-income healthcare system lackin...
Read more

Iasmina Ciocan - Neurosurgery

Image
Neurosurgery Iasmina Ciocan  Neurosurgery is, as we all know, one of the most demanding medical fields, due to needing utmost precision. Here, even the tiniest mistakes bring horrible consequences. Therefore, neurosurgery requires cutting-edge technology, dedicated professionals, and tremendous financial resources. Sadly, in low- and middle-income areas, the proficiency of neurosurgical care is being brought down by numerous challenges. People could always be affected by neurosurgical conditions, no matter which country they live in, hence it is essential to address the obstacles faced in this medical field, on a global level. One of these crucial problems is the absence of trained personnel and adequate surgical equipment. Specialized neurosurgical care is mandatory for conditions like hydrocephalus, brain tumors, congenital anomalies, and spinal cord injuries. However, the growing scarcity of skilled neurosurgeons and neurosurgical facilities in some countries, means that a notab...
Read more