Staffing shortages and safety concerns drive experienced nurses from bedside care

Live 5 WCSC reported that experienced nurses are leaving bedside care due to multiple pressures including workload, staffing shortages, safety concerns, and documentation demands. These factors contribute to burnout and reduce nurses' ability to provide the personal care that initially drew them to the profession.

Experts from Aging Untold explained that when staffing does not keep pace with patient demand, nurses can feel overwhelmed and unable to offer adequate care. Dr. Rhea Rogers noted that the supportive environment where nurses guided physicians has diminished as systems focus more on patient volume and numbers.

Safety concerns also play a significant role in nurses leaving the field. Amy O’Rourke shared an example of a nurse who was physically assaulted by a patient during the COVID-19 pandemic and felt the hospital did not take sufficient action, prompting her departure.

Gerontologist “Sam” Cradduck highlighted that emergency rooms can be particularly unsafe for nurses due to the nature of injuries and patient conditions they encounter. These safety risks add to the emotional and physical toll on nursing staff.

The experts suggest that hospitals and healthcare systems need to address these issues to retain experienced nurses and support the workforce essential for patient care.