Keri Bains, BSN, RN’s Post

Broadly speaking, nursing—as a profession—has not matched the diverse US population. An analysis of the 2020 US Census data showed that more than 40% of individuals living in America identify as people of color. However, the registered nurse workforce comprises only 19.4% of individuals from minority backgrounds, with the majority of the nursing workforce being White/Caucasian (80.6%).2 This is a huge concern given that many people in need of health care understandably seek care from providers within their own communities. #oncology #nursing #DEI #diversity #equity #inclusion #cancercare #nurseleaders https://lnkd.in/eQAb_XBx

When comparing the number of active licenses issued more than 30 years ago to those issued in the past five years, the racial and ethnic demographics of #California’s nursing workforce appear substantially different. And when looking specifically into vocational #nurses, Hispanics make up over 40% of active licenses issued in the past 5 years. This is a noticeable difference compared to how Hispanic vocational nurses make up 17.6% of active licenses issued over 30 years ago.📈 These findings (and so much more) are made possible by HCAI’s Health Workforce Research Data Center. Curious about how the racial and ethnic makeup of California's 46 other licensed #health professions have changed over time? Click here 👉 https://bit.ly/41bDoAE By better understanding the makeup of our health workforce, we can better identify areas of need to make it more diverse and effective. 

👏to #ournursesbravas on #nationalnursesday 🩺 As we embark on #NursesWeek, today, we extend un saludo de corazón to #OurNursesBravas across the nation. They embody healthcare with a profound touch of cultural love and understanding, which significantly aids multicultural families in navigating our medical system. Offering essential guidance for pursuing a nursing career not only facilitates Hispanic families' entry into the middle class but also ensures that more Latino communities have access to medically qualified Hispanic nurses equipped with the necessary cultural understanding and empathy to cater to their loved ones' needs. The presence of Hispanic #NursesBravas is indispensable for the well-being of both their families and the broader community. It's concerning to note that the "share of Hispanic nurses dropped to 10% in 2022 from 12% in 2018, with the percentage of Spanish-speaking nurses also declining to 7% from 9%. Between the lines, numerous studies and calls to action in recent years underscore the imperative to diversify the ranks of frontline health providers." Together, let's recognize and support #OurNursesBravas who enrich lives every day. #ournursessonbravas #gadmcinc #semillapurpose #semillamulticultural

This week, we finally published the findings of our Nursing Times investigation into racism in the NHS over the last decade, which revealed that incidents of racism against NHS staff are increasing. Data provided to us by 137 NHS trusts in England supported anecdotal evidence from nurses we interviewed that, despite awareness of race and racism increasing in recent years, the problem is getting worse, not better. The vast majority (85%) of trusts with figures for 2014 and 2024 showed a significant increase in racist incidents over that period. Racism reports have also increased in the short-term, with 65% of trusts showing a rise between 2022 and 2023. You can read about more of the findings and testimonies from nurses below. #nurse #nurses #nursing #health #healthcare #racism #nhs #diversity #inclusion #foi #investigation #exclusive https://lnkd.in/ezsXBJvD

Many people I talk to are often shocked when I tell them while I worked bedside at hospitals I have been strangled, harassed, and bullied at work; that having a thick skin to toxic cultures and rehearsed, nimble, escape ready behaviors were needed. Burnout, alarm fatigue, moral fatigue, and not working at the top of license are not sole entities of attrition from bedside nursing. The American Nurses Association found that nurses reported being physically abused 24% of the time and verbally or physically threatened 43% of the time In 2019, the incidence rate for violence against nurses was three times the amount of any other occupation. Data tracked over the past few years in the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators® (NDNQI®) depicts how violence against nurses only worsened. Nurses experienced the highest rates of violence during 2021 and 2022 with a 7% increase in the rates of violence toward nurses compared with prepandemic statistics. This equates to each organization reporting at least three to four assaults per month. Unfortunately, nearly half of the assaults on nurses result in injury regardless of the patient population; there was a 5% increase in injury rates as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed. If nursing workflow solutions don’t have this metric also in mind, we are missing a big piece. #nursesonlinkedin #workplacesafety #nursing

Based on registered nurse workforce projections using Current Population Survey data from 1982 to 2023, the size of the RN workforce is projected to increase by roughly 1.2 million FTEs to 4.56 million by 2035, close to prepandemic forecasts

“Do you feel safe at home?” “Are you experiencing any violence at home?” “Have you had thoughts of harming yourself?” I recently found myself in the Emergency Department and while I am normally in the nurse role, this time I was the patient. The triage nurse asked me the questions above in rapid fire succession without waiting for me to answer any of them. The door to the triage room was open, so everyone in the waiting room could hear our dialogue and my answers. I had a friend with me who was not asked to leave the room. The triage nurse never looked up from his computer to look at my face, body language, or response. He just assumed I would say “I’m fine” and move on, like most patients do. Screening for violence, suicidality, trafficking or any of the above is an absolute waste of time when it’s not done correctly. I would guess the exhausted, overworked triage nurse probably has never been trained on screening and is checking a box and moving onto the next thing. But don’t we want screening to work? Isn’t the point to identify patients who need help?  Screening can be highly effective. I have witnessed it many times. But it requires healthcare workers to understand how to create felt safety, build rapport, and help patients feel valued and seen in a very short amount of time. I helped a forensic program in Alberta implement a screening process last year and 71% of the patients they screened, screened positive for some concern related to exploitation or trafficking. The nurses have done an amazing job of making their patients feel safe and seen before they dive into a questionnaire. Screening works well, when it’s done right. Most of the time, it’s done abysmally, and patients won’t disclose. If you want pointers on how to make screenings effective, let me know! #paradigmshift #screening #healthcare #SANEs #humantrafficking #nurses

In the second part of McKnight's Long-Term Care News' Rural Peril series, I explore the #staffing needs of nursing homes ahead of a proposed federal mandate. Nationally, some 22,000 new #registerednurses would be needed. But in places like the 12 Nebraska counties with one or NO licensed RNs working in any setting, the defining question of the moment is where providers will possibly find all the new workers they need to stay in business. The consequences of a hiring war won't stop at nursing homes' front doors. “We’re all competing for the same people,” said Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association. “Not surprisingly, staffing requirements ramp up the issue for rural facilities. It makes the potential to keep rural nursing homes open extremely problematic, and it makes it even more difficult on the financial end to keep rural hospitals open.” Robyn Stone Kierstin Reed, MSW, MPA Nate Schema Jill Gengler AHCA/NCAL #skillednursing #longtermcare #ruralhealth #nursinghomes

Australia is projected to face a significant nursing shortage in the coming years, with estimates revealing a shortfall of approximately 85,000 nurses by 2025 and a staggering deficit of 123,000 nurses by 2030. 1. Aging Population: The prevalence of Baby Boomers, who outnumber any other generation, translates to a heightened demand for healthcare services. 2. Aging Workforce: In tandem with the aging population, the nursing workforce itself is experiencing a demographic shift. Many nurses are approaching retirement age, and there simply aren't enough new nurses entering the field to replace them. 3. Gendered Workforce: Despite societal advancements, nursing remains predominantly female-dominated, with 88% of Australia's nurses being women. This gendered composition introduces unique challenges, such as maternity leave considerations. The possibility of nurses not returning to the profession after maternity leave, or returning on a part-time basis, further exacerbates the existing shortages. 4. Violence: Instances of violence against nurses are on the rise, with approximately 10% reporting some form of assault. This concerning trend contributes to attrition within the nursing profession, as many nurses opt to leave or contemplate leaving due to safety concerns and workplace hazards. 5. Nurse Burnout: Nurses, who are expected to possess a high level of training and exhibit qualities such as empathy and problem-solving, are grappling with increasing levels of burnout. The compounding pressures of the global pandemic and systemic challenges within the healthcare system place immense strain on their mental well-being. How can we collectively address these issues to ensure a sustainable future for healthcare in Australia? #nurseshortage #healthcareworkershortage

‘Educators need to promote inclusive care for people with dark skin tones’ Dr Neesha Oozageer Gunowa, from the University of Surrey, on the need to consider dark skin tones in education materials. #education #inclusivity #diversity #inclusion #nurse #nurses #nursing #health #healthcare #clinicalpractice #nhs #darkskin https://lnkd.in/edsPrD9s