There is a higher level of physical, emotional, and mental stress associated with critical care areas of healthcare. The work demand in critical care areas such as intensive care or post-anesthesia care units directly affects the overall well-being of individuals who work in these areas NURS 6053 national healthcare issue/stressor. A major healthcare stressor that has severely heighten the stress level in these areas is the current Coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19 has made working in critical care areas the most stressful it has been in decades past. Stress negatively impacts nurses and patient outcomes; however, those practicing in critical care areas experience high levels of burnout and other negative health issues (Vahedian-Azimi, et al., 2017).

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I currently work in the second busiest intensive care unit in the state of Maryland. Covid-19 has increased the work-related stress level on the unit tenfold. Covid-19 has caused a rapid spike in individuals admitted to the ICU, increasing the workload of all members on the unit, especially nurses. Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on the unit with increased negative patient outcomes, unsafe working conditions, and even dire staffing issues. Since the beginning of the year, the unit has had five different unit managers, three different directors, and within the past couple months, a significant loss of staff, including fatality. NURS 6053 national healthcare issue/stressor Obesity, cardiovascular disease, decreased mental health, emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and depression are all linked to work-related stress (Alenezi, Aboshaiqah, & Baker, 2018). Each of these work-related stresses has been noticeable throughout the entire unit.

The healthcare system has responded to the current healthcare issue/stressor by implementing new infection control protocols. The new protocols include increased hand cleansing stations as well as shutting off visitation privileges to family members. Furthermore, they have designated areas for donning and doffing all PPE. Lastly, the hospital has created three aromatherapy rooms for staff to utilize when feeling overwhelmed. The rooms are filled with soothing sounds and an array of aromas to help with stress management. Aromatherapy may contribute to a healthy work environment and decrease nurse anxiety associated with occupational stress (Donaldson, Ingrao, & Ocampo, 2017) NURS 6053 national healthcare issue/stressor.

References

Alenezi, A. M., Aboshaiqah, A., & Baker, O. (2018). Work‐related stress among nursing staff working in government hospitals and primary health care centres. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 24(5). doi: 10.1111/ijn.12676

Donaldson, J., Ingrao, C., Drake, D., & Ocampo, E. (2017). The Effect of Aromatherapy on Anxiety Experienced by Hospital Nurses. Medsurg Nursing, 26(3).

Vahedian-Azimi, A., Hajiesmaeili, M., Kangasniemi, M., Fornes-Vives, J., Hunsucker, R. L., Rahimibashar, F., … Miller, A. C. (2017). Effects of Stress on Critical Care Nurses: A National Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Intensive Care Medicine, 34(4), 311–322. doi: 10.1177/0885066617696853

responses

When the World Health Organization (WHO) reported the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020 it seemed like the bottom fell out everywhere (Long, Vo, and Vuong, 2020). If you were like me, you found yourself exhausted and baffled about what was happening around you and quickly realized that the ever-increasing talk about nursing shortages was in fact true. What has happened to the nursing field of health care workers? What once was a traditional life-long career is now seen as an end to a mean- to spend a year or two in a hospital setting for experience and then continue one’s education to be a Nurse Practitioner, or Doctor of Nurse Practitioner, or leave the field all together (Palumbo, Rambur & Hart 2017). NURS 6053 national healthcare issue/stressor

In the second largest ICU in Maryland I cannot imagine the impact of patients that came through the ICU and that are still coming into the ICU setting. One must look at what causes the shortage of nurses on a larger scale as well as on a local scale; is management effective at a system or site-specific hospital, how is the direct leadership within that department; are there other hospitals or areas with better pay or benefits, (Pittman, & Russ 2016). NURS 6053 national healthcare issue/stressor In the end I think the larger questions are what factors contribute to the nursing shortage crisis and how can we address these factors?

References

Palumbo, M., Rambur, B., & Hart, V. (2017). Is health care payment reform impacting nurses’                work settings, roles, and education preparation?Journal of Professional Nursing, 33(6),           400-404.doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2016.11.005

Pittman, P., & Scully-Russ, E. (2016). Workforce planning and development in times of delivery                            system transformation. Human Resources for Health, 14(56), 1-15. Doi:10.1186/s12960-                             016-0154-3. Retrieved fromhttps://human-resources-health.biomedcentral.com/track/                               pdf/10.1186/s12960-016-0154-3

Thanh-Long, G., Dinh-Tri Vo., & Quan-Hoang Vuong, (2020). COVID-19: A relook at

Healthcare system and aged populations. Sustainability, 12 (10), 4200.

doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.gardner-webb,edu/10.3390/su12104200