Nursing shortages within hospitals have risen as nurses feel overworked and underpaid. COVID-19 further exacerbated this problem, causing even more nurses, especially those with long tenure, to become stressed enough to leave the field altogether. According to the 2022 National Nursing Workforce Study, the median age of nurses fell from 52 to 46 from 2020 to 2022 due to over 200,000 experienced RNs leaving the workforce during that timeframe.

Staffing shortages impact healthcare at all levels. If the demand for nurses stays high, these issues will not go away soon. The healthcare industry must find new ways to address the problems caused by staffing shortages in the clinical workforce.
\r\nBetter technology has become a key solution to keeping nurses and reducing burnout, as it helps ease nurses' stress from staffing issues.
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Patient monitoring technology has improved a lot in recent years. New advancements help increase efficiency in many areas, like the Critical Care Department and the Medical Surgical floor. The impact of these technical advancements is paramount, as staffing issues within the healthcare industry have become prevalent.

Nursing shortages within hospitals have risen as nurses feel overworked and underpaid. COVID-19 further exacerbated this problem, causing even more nurses, especially those with long tenure, to become stressed enough to leave the field altogether. According to the 2022 National Nursing Workforce Study, the median age of nurses fell from 52 to 46 from 2020 to 2022 due to over 200,000 experienced RNs leaving the workforce during that timeframe.

Staffing shortages impact healthcare at all levels. If the demand for nurses stays high, these issues will not go away soon. The healthcare industry must find new ways to address the problems caused by staffing shortages in the clinical workforce.
Better technology has become a key solution to keeping nurses and reducing burnout, as it helps ease nurses' stress from staffing issues.

Utilizing a universal UI on bedside and ambulatory devices allows for a more efficient patient transition. Nurses can quickly access data on the mobile device where they need it and when they need it, without relying on tenured clinicians to assist each time a patient ambulates. 

With fewer experienced nurses on staff, it is harder to keep educators. This means newer nurses may not get proper equipment training. A patient monitoring system with a universal user interface (UI) can help new nurses. It allows them to access patient data easily, so they won’t have to stress about learning different UIs for each monitor.

Utilizing a universal UI on bedside and ambulatory devices allows for a more efficient patient transition. Nurses can quickly access data on the mobile device where they need it and when they need it, without relying on tenured clinicians to assist each time a patient ambulates. 

This is especially true in the Medical Surgical Department, where nurses must capture vital signs for many patients. Incorporating an electronic vital signs documentation system that captures and transmits data to the EHR at the point of care (POC) can reduce errors and save time, so nurses can be more attentive to their patients and spend less time interacting with their devices.

Low clinician-to-patient ratios can lead to operational challenges and errors when manually entering vital signs into the EHR.

This is especially true in the Medical Surgical Department, where nurses must capture vital signs for many patients. Incorporating an electronic vital signs documentation system that captures and transmits data to the EHR at the point of care (POC) can reduce errors and save time, so nurses can be more attentive to their patients and spend less time interacting with their devices.

Every day, hundreds of alarms go off. Nurses and hospital staff have become accustomed to the constant ringing. This noise often comes from false alarms. However, staff ignoring serious alarms quickly creates a patient safety issue.

Alarm fatigue is a frustrating and dangerous problem. It happens when too many monitor alarms go off from different devices, some of which may sound by mistake.

Every day, hundreds of alarms go off. Nurses and hospital staff have become accustomed to the constant ringing. This noise often comes from false alarms. However, staff ignoring serious alarms quickly creates a patient safety issue.

As a result, new nurses demand higher salaries or a per diem schedule, which financially impacts the healthcare industry. The 2022 Nursing Workforce Study states that pre-tax earnings for RNs increased from $70,000 to $80,000 between 2020 and 2022.

Investing in the right technology can help counteract the financial implications of the nursing shortage by providing value-based care for which hospitals can charge and get reimbursement. Introducing monitoring systems that can help to solve training gaps, reduce manual errors, and combat alarm fatigue will assist with maximizing uptime and minimizing the total cost of ownership. 

Patient monitoring technology can help with the nurse staffing shortage. Although, it is necessary to address why nurses are leaving the workforce. The best way to solve this problem is to hire more nurses. However, many nurses feel overworked and underpaid. This issue has become worse since the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result, new nurses demand higher salaries or a per diem schedule, which financially impacts the healthcare industry. The 2022 Nursing Workforce Study states that pre-tax earnings for RNs increased from $70,000 to $80,000 between 2020 and 2022.

Investing in the right technology can help counteract the financial implications of the nursing shortage by providing value-based care for which hospitals can charge and get reimbursement. Introducing monitoring systems that can help to solve training gaps, reduce manual errors, and combat alarm fatigue will assist with maximizing uptime and minimizing the total cost of ownership. 

At Mindray, we understand the challenges nurses face due to staffing gaps and that delivering high-quality patient care has never been more essential. Our intuitive patient monitoring solutions help streamline patient care and ensure clinicians have quick access to comprehensive and meaningful data at the bedside and beyond.

Mindray’s BeneVision N-Series Patient Monitors consist of six monitors, all with the same user interface – this innovative solution allows you to choose your ideal display size and parameter capabilities. The Mindray VS 9 Vital Signs Monitor is designed to be connected so clinicians can send vital signs at the POC, simplifying workflow, improving efficiencies, and reducing errors..

The Mindray Difference 

At Mindray, we understand the challenges nurses face due to staffing gaps and that delivering high-quality patient care has never been more essential. Our intuitive patient monitoring solutions help streamline patient care and ensure clinicians have quick access to comprehensive and meaningful data at the bedside and beyond.

Mindray’s BeneVision N-Series Patient Monitors consist of six monitors, all with the same user interface – this innovative solution allows you to choose your ideal display size and parameter capabilities. The Mindray VS 9 Vital Signs Monitor is designed to be connected so clinicians can send vital signs at the POC, simplifying workflow, improving efficiencies, and reducing errors..

¹ Woo M, Bacon O. Alarm Fatigue. In: Hall KK, Shoemaker-Hunt S, Hoffman L, et al. Making Healthcare Safer III: A Critical Analysis of Existing and Emerging Patient Safety Practices. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2020 Mar. 13.

Educational Resources:

National Library of Medicine - Making Healthcare Safer 

References:

¹ Woo M, Bacon O. Alarm Fatigue. In: Hall KK, Shoemaker-Hunt S, Hoffman L, et al. Making Healthcare Safer III: A Critical Analysis of Existing and Emerging Patient Safety Practices. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2020 Mar. 13.

Educational Resources:

National Library of Medicine - Making Healthcare Safer