Several factors contribute to the concerns over nurse burnout and exhaustion
FROM THE ALABAMA STATE NURSES ASSOCIATION
Montgomery, Ala – Nurses are the largest professional workforce in healthcare, and they are trained to assess and respond to complicated medical issues with interventions that often save lives. Quality outcomes of inpatient care are jeopardized when a healthcare system lacks an appropriate number of nurses, physicians, and other professional staff.
There have been numerous reports during the COVID-19 pandemic about staffing shortages that have reached crisis proportions. The Alabama State Nurses Association (ASNA), via membership surveys and inter-professional communications, has a direct line to thousands of nurses across the state. The Alabama State Nurses Association is composed entirely of nurses. Through surveys and professional communication, our members tell us that the healthcare system’s staffing challenges are perilously high.
Nurse burnout and exhaustion are common. Many have elected to retire. Others have chosen to practice elsewhere either as travel nurses or through a multi-state license with the prospects of higher pay.
Alabama’s average RN base pay is less than the average base RN pay for our surrounding 12 southeastern states. The pandemic has shed light on this issue as many employers have had to meet staffing shortages with travel nurses. Although they know the proliferation of travel nurses is a temporary measure, permanent staff see the vast difference in pay, and many have joined the ranks as travel nurse. When the COVID surge is over, ASNA believes it will be challenging to return to healthy numbers of permanent staff unless Alabama becomes competitive with our surrounding states. The following are other contributing factors to these concerns:
• Alabama is a compact licensure state that allows nurses in over 30 states to work in those compact states. The intent is to enable nurses to flow between states to fill voids, but it also allows nurses trained in Alabama to work in higher-paying states with their current license.
• Through surveys, committee work, and town hall meetings, ASNA has identified nurse burnout and exhaustion as a major issue throughout the state and the country.
• Nurses are the backbone of healthcare, yet many transfer from direct bedside care to work in other areas. Others retire earlier than initially planned, and some are leaving the profession altogether.
• Alabama has one of the lowest CMS Medicare wage indexes in the country, and Alabama has not expanded Medicaid, which could cover the cost of compensated patients.
ASNA is actively engaged with policymakers and has met with the Alabama Hospital Association to discuss encouraging and providing relief to our frontline nurse heroes. As the voice for nurses of all specialties, ASNA has the responsibility to echo our members’ voices to the highest levels of administration and government.
It is important to remember the issues ASNA sees right now in the nursing industry are not Democrat/Republican issues, rich or poor issues, or even city vs. rural provider issues. Having a well[1]staffed healthcare system is in the best interest of every Alabamian. This was true before COVID, and it will be true in the years ahead
