How to Address Veterans' Unique Health Needs

The nursing unit focuses on taking care of the veterans’ unique health needs. I primarily work on the mental health issues team. The trauma of serving in a combat zone mostly causes psychological damage. Veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression can also suffer from problems associated with their primary issues such as violent behavior, paranoia, drug addiction, and alcoholism. Nurses help PTSD patients who need anti-anxiety medicines and psychiatric anti-depressants or further psychological support.

Strengths  Highly skilled nursing staff The organization has a strong philosophy of commitment to enhancing patient safety and care. Local charities being interested in participating	Weaknesses  Shortage of nursing staff to take care of the clients’ needs Aging workforce Decreased retention of nurses due to high workloads and extended hours
Opportunities  Strong relationships and form of collaboration with community organizations Creates increased job opportunities and better working conditions for nurses.	Threats  Nurse staff burnouts Low staff income compared to other hospitals

A SWOT analysis can be applied to the nursing staff shortage challenge that the organization is facing to include:

Strengths 

Highly Skilled Nursing Staff 

The organization has highly skilled nursing staff with experience of more than five years in dealing with veterans with mental health issues. These nurses have developed the right values and the right skills through the years to deliver compassionate, effective, and high-quality care (Boamah, 2018). Mental health nurses have a significant role in dealing with the increasing mental health issues and related problems among veterans. They help them deal with issues such as lack of support networks, poor living conditions, and homelessness due to poverty.

The Organization Has A Strong Philosophy of Commitment to Enhancing Patient Safety and Care. 

The organization has transformational leadership that is committed to patient safety and care. Healthcare organizations need to have a culture that understands the science of patient safety. The leadership should transform not just the physical setting but also the practices and culture of nurses and other healthcare workers to ensure that they are working towards better health outcomes for the patient (Boamah, 2018). The leaders have instilled in the team that high-quality health services entail the right care, at the right time, in response to the patient’s preferences and needs, while reducing resource waste and harm.

Local Charities are Interested In Participating 

Local organizations that specialize in managing and offering referrals services to veterans who suffer from depression, PTSD, and anxiety offer support, resources, and information.

Weaknesses 

Shortage of Nursing Staff to Take Care of the Clients’ Needs 

The organization has a nursing staff shortage, which has led to errors as well as higher mortality and morbidity rates. Fewer people are working in nursing, especially mental health nurses who have resulted in the shortage and a higher nurse-patient ratio in the organization.

Aging Workforce 

The nursing workforce is aging, just like the populations that they serve. Presently, about one million registered nurses are over 50 years, which is an indication that a third of the current nursing staff could retire in the coming ten to fifteen years (Haddad & Toney-Butler, 2019). The number is quite significant which subsequently presents the challenge of getting more nurses trained with fewer resources. There is also a shortage in the nursing faculty, which results in limitations in enrollment.

Decreased Retention of Nurses Due to High Workloads and Extended Hours 

Due to understaffing, the nursing staff has been forced to work for longer hours and their jobs are stretching beyond their nursing responsibilities. This has resulted in high levels of job stress among the nurses, which have made them seek other sectors with better working conditions (Matthews et al., 2018).

Opportunities 

Strong Relationships and Form of Collaboration with Community Organizations 

The organization can leverage solid relationships and collaborations with the community organizations particularly those dealing with mental health issues, to deal with its nursing shortage problem. These community organizations have many people who are willing to offer volunteering services to veterans. The organization can collaborate with them regarding getting the necessary expertise to perform some of the responsibilities, such as offering moral and emotional support to these veterans.

Creates Increased Job Opportunities and Better Working Conditions for Nurses 

The shortage in the nursing staff provides an opportunity for more nurses to be employed. Studies have indicated that a shortage of nursing staff is not necessarily due to the scarcity of people with nursing qualifications, but it is can also result from the unwillingness of nurses to work in the existing working environments (Matthews et al., 2018). The organization needs to work on its retention and ‘return’ policies, employ more nursing staff, use the available nurses effectively and not to overwork them, and to establish a good incentive structure.

Threats 

Nurse Staff Burnouts 

After some nurses have graduated and started working, they realize that the profession is nothing like what they thought it would be. As such, some experience burnout and ultimately leave the profession. Presently, Haddad and Toney-Butler (2019) indicate that the national turnover rates range between 8.8% and 37.0%, subject to the geographic location and nursing specialty.

Low staff Income Compared to Other Hospitals 

Poor salary is a threat to the nursing shortage in the organization. Most nurses complain about the earnings indicating that it is not enough compared to all the work that they put in and the time invested in serving the clients. Matthews et al. (2018) show that good wages are associated with job satisfaction and also positively influence nurse retention and outcomes.

SWOT Analysis Summary 

Presently, the organization is grappling with the issue of nursing staff shortage, which has made it quite challenging it to live up to its ethos of commitment to patient safety and quality care. Some of the strengths that the organization enjoys currently is the philosophy of being committed to better patient outcomes, having highly skilled nursing professionals and getting support from local organizations. However, the organization’s weaknesses include the low number of nurses, decreased retention of nurses, and an aging workforce.

The organizations can neutralize the threat of losing more workforce due to poor salaries by developing good incentive structures and better introducing better remuneration programs. Burnout is a real struggle for most nurses, and the organization should put in place structures to support these nurses, especially those who are just starting in the profession. The organization should leverage the relationships with local organizations to get people to help in the hospital and ensure that the nurses are not overwhelmed by the tasks. The organization should also focus on creating better working conditions and employing more people.

References

Boamah, S. (2018). Linking nurses' clinical leadership to patient care quality: The role of transformational leadership and workplace empowerment. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research , 50 (1); 9-19.

Haddad, L. M., & Toney-Butler, T. J. (2019). Nursing shortage. In StatPearls [Internet] . StatPearls Publishing.

Matthews, M., Carsten, M. K., Ayers, D. J., & Menachemi, N. (2018). Determinants of turnover among low wage earners in long term care: the role of manager-employee relationships. Geriatric Nursing , 39 (4); 407-413.