Current National Healthcare Issues/Stressors

Description of the National Health Issue and its Impacts

Currently, the COVID-19 health crisis is a major issue that highly influences the work
setting for all healthcare professionals globally (Adams & Walls, 2020). Nurses among other
medical staff, particularly in areas that record high numbers of infections face overwork and
burnout syndrome. The workload in healthcare facilities has tripled. Healthcare workers also face
a high risk of being infected when handling Covid-19 patients and this factor enhances
psychological stress and burnout (Liu et al., 2020). Amidst all the workload, nurses and medical
staff are underpaid given that most healthcare facilities have not increased their staff’s pay to
match the increased risk and workload.

Summary of Two Articles Reviewed

Overwork is a crucial factor in healthcare since cases of staff burnout influence quality of
care (Maruyama, 2017). Nurses who experience these issues may fail to deliver quality care
because the underlying psychological stressors also impact their health and state of mind. For
instance, nurses who feel overworked and underpaid can be frustrated and lose sight of their
contribution towards ensuring that positive outcomes are achieved (Cedar & Walker, 2020).
Staffing shortages also force existing staff to become both emotionally and physically drained.
Some members of the medical staff have resigned since they feel that they risk their lives along
with their family’s lives for very little compensation.
Strategies Used to Address the Organizational Impact of National Healthcare
Issues/Stressors Presented in the Scholarly Resources Selected

CURRENT NATIONAL HEALTHCARE ISSUES/STRESSORS 3
My health system work setting is trying to respond to this stressor by liaising with the
federal government to provide nurses and healthcare workers with quality protective gear that
will significantly reduce the risk of infection when treating positive patients. Further, the hospital
has provided vehicles that help transport healthcare staff to ensure that getting to and from home
is easier for workers. Nurses and other medical staff also receive incentive packages from
donors, and federal health agencies to help motivate workers who constantly face overwork.
While these incentives are not sufficient, they have helped many workers support their families
as the healthcare system works to develop better compensatory terms.

CURRENT NATIONAL HEALTHCARE ISSUES/STRESSORS 4

References

Adams, J. G., & Walls, R. M. (2020). Supporting the health care workforce during the COVID-
19 global epidemic. Jama, 323(15), 1439-1440.
Cedar, S. H., & Walker, G. (2020). Protecting the wellbeing of nurses providing end-of-life
care. Nursing Times, 116(2), 30-34.
Liu, Q., Luo, D., Haase, J. E., Guo, Q., Wang, X. Q., Liu, S., … & Yang, B. X. (2020). The
experiences of health-care providers during the COVID-19 crisis in China: a qualitative
study. The Lancet Global Health.