Literature Review

Is healthcare paying enough attention to nurse leaders?Becker's Clinical Leadership, by Erica Carbajal; 2/26/24 Early this year, the American Organization for Nursing Leadership Foundation released findings from more than 2,400 nurse leaders who were surveyed in November. Thirty-five percent of respondents indicated they were considering an exit from their roles: 12% said they intend to leave and 23% said they may leave within the next six months. When asked what the top reasons were for thinking about an exit, nurse leaders pointed to work having a negative affect on their health and well-being and not having the resources to do their job — a parallel to what bedside nurses consistently point to as drivers of burnout or reasons they've stepped away from the job. 

'Productivity boom' may be in store for US, economists say Becker's Hospital CFO Report, by Mackenzie Bean; 2/26/24U.S. productivity measures have increased significantly for the first time in years, driven by new artificial intelligence advancements and hybrid work, according to the report. Economists are closely monitoring whether these productivity gains could lead to sustained economic growth, a phenomenon last seen in 1994 amid the rise of computers and the internet. 

‘Joint employer’ rule effective date now March 11 McKnights Senior Living, by Lois A. Bowers; 2/26/24The National Labor Relations Board’s “joint employer” rule now is set to go into effect on March 11 after a federal judge granted a stay last week. ... Long-term care providers that use temporary or contract workers, as well as operators that are part of franchises, and others, could be affected.

Health care workers push for their own confidential mental health treatmentKFF Health News, by Katheryn Houghton; 2/22/24States are redefining when medical professionals can get mental health treatment without risking notifying the boards that regulate their licenses. Montana is among the states looking to boost confidential care for health professionals as long as they’re not deemed a danger to themselves or patients. In recent years, at least a dozen states have considered or created confidential wellness programs to offer clinicians help early on for career burnout or mental health issues. ... The changes are modeled after Virginia legislation from 2020.

How many docs are feeling burned out? Almost all of them, survey findsMedPageToday, by Joyce Frieden; 2/22/24More than half of survey participants (56%) said they've thought about either staying in medicine but no longer seeing patients, or leaving the field entirely, the poll found. Primary care doctors expressed more frustration than specialists, with a higher percentage considering leaving the field entirely (54% vs 42%). Only 30% of respondents overall said they were optimistic about the future.

Palliating serious illness during disasters and public health emergenciesAm J Nurs, by Masako Mayahara, Djin L Tay, Jeannette Kates, William E Rosa; 2/23/24, ahead of print 3/1/24The increase in disasters and public health emergencies in recent years is a serious public health concern. The needs of suffering victims can be multifaceted, particularly the needs of those who are from systematically marginalized populations. Palliative care nurses play a vital role in mitigating the suffering of those affected by these events. 

What 54% of physicians want enough to take a pay cutBecker's Hospital Review, by Erica Carbajal; 2/13/24Many physicians feel conflicted in their personal lives due to the demands of the job, and more than half say they would take a pay cut for a better work-life balance, according to Medscape's "2024 Physician Lifestyle & Happiness Report." The findings, released Feb. 13, are based on a survey of 9,226 practicing U.S. physicians across 29 specialties.

Michael Stiggers talks on misconceptions of hospice careThe Times-News, by Wayne Clark; 2/10/24"People are always telling me that I must have a difficult job to do and that they wouldn't trade places with me," said Stiggers, who is the chaplain for Chattahoochee Hospice. "They think it must be the worst job in the world, but they are wrong. It's one of the best jobs you can have. I absolutely love my job."

8 C-suite roles to watchBecker's Hospital Review, by Alexis Kayser, 2/8/24In the past year, more than 40 health systems have taken a closer look at their leadership teams — adding, subtracting, redesigning and combining roles to position their C-suites for the future. [Click on the title's link for] eight evolving executive positions Becker's is tracking.

Rising workplace violence against nurses: A pressing issue in the healthcare sector Medriva, by Zara Nwosu; 2/5/24According to a report published by National Nurses United, there has been a disturbing increase in violence against nurses in their workplace, with a staggering 81.6% of nurses reporting experiences of violence. ... It negatively impacts recruitment and retention, with 60% of nurses stating that the experience of violence has influenced their decision to change jobs, leave jobs, or even consider leaving the profession.

Medical records specialists reach higher ground in healthcareAAPC News, by Michelle Dick; 2/1/24AAPC's 2024 Medical Coding and Billing Salary Report reveals that, as unemployement rates slide down, salaries climb to new heights. ... AAPC’s 2024 Medical Coding and Billing Salary Report shows the largest year-to-year salary increases across the board in the history of the Salary Survey. 

What the mental health crisis may be missing: Spirituality as a tool Forbes, by Nicole F. Roberts; 1/31/24 It is estimated that approximately one in four people globally will experience mental illness during their lives, with about one billion individuals facing mental health disorders at any given time ... [such as] anxiety, depression, loneliness or some other diagnosable illness. ... Despite most people believing in both science and a form of spirituality there are fundamental differences in how and why people seek the care they do, and how and why they adhere to recommended treatment plans as they do. And much of those decisions is based on beliefs.