Inclusive immigration policies protect America’s health care
“As a Syrian doctor practicing in the U.S., I’m grateful for opportunities future physicians may not have” To read the full op-ed in STAT, click here.
Commentary: Hospital workplace violence is a public health emergency. Why is no one listening? — Damond W. Boatwright
“As many of us scroll through our favorite news app, we are greeted by reports of workplace violence, from verbal and physical confrontations to fatal shootings. “What is often missing from the headlines are stories of the increasingly high frequency of workplace assaults suffered by health care professionals across the country.” To read the full…
Congress can’t let the year end without renewing the Lorna Breen Act
“Health care professionals are the U.S. health care system. They’re at the heart of every life saved and every patient cared for, in return facing challenges and strain unimaginable to most of us. “Yet, despite alarming levels of burnout and untreated mental health conditions exacerbated by the weaknesses of the system in which they serve,…
Visa freeze exacerbates US nursing shortage
In a statement, Patty Jeffrey, president of the American Association of International Healthcare, said freezing visa applications is exacerbating staffing shortages across the U.S. health care system. She said part of the problem is not enough U.S.-educated nurses. “Until we can correct capacity issues that force [U.S.] nursing schools to reject thousands of qualified applicants…
BLS Finds Healthcare Worker Nonfatal Injuries Increase, Are Higher Than Any Other Sector
A new federal report underscores the need to protect the nation’s healthcare workforce. In newly released data, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the number of nonfatal injuries in the healthcare and social services sector increased by 27,800 cases to 471,600 cases in 2023, which is higher than any other sector. Moreover, the…
Hospital workplace violence is a public health emergency. Why is no one listening?
“As many of us scroll through our favorite news app, we are greeted by reports of workplace violence, from verbal and physical confrontations to fatal shootings. What is often missing from the headlines are stories of the increasingly high frequency of workplace assaults suffered by health care professionals across the country.” To read the full…
Worried About Healthcare Worker Well-Being?
Lorna Breen, MD, Matt Gall, MD, Mo Brown, MD, Scott Jolley, MD, William West Jr., MD, and Tristin Smith, RN, are tragic examples of an unacceptably high level of suicide among U.S. healthcare workers. Unfortunately, this list could extend to encompass my entire article, and chances are, each of you reading this have your own…
New Data from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Highlights Need for Solutions to Nursing Faculty Shortage
Faculty recruitment and retention is a top concern for nursing education leaders as institutions work to strengthen the pipeline of nurses entering the workforce. And a new survey from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) quantifies those concerns, finding that the percentage of open nursing faculty positions currently unfilled, known as the faculty vacancy rate, increased to…
Workplace Violence Is Not Just ‘Part of the Job’
I (Doehring) remember his denim overalls and the sound of muddy boots hitting the emergency department (ED) floor as he suddenly lunged out of the gurney with his big hands stretched toward my neck. He was intoxicated, which made him slower, thankfully. His words were profane and offensive. I was a young, slightly built, new…
An immigration fix to address the health care workforce crisis
America stands on the brink of a health care workforce crisis. Within just four years, the nation will face a severe shortage of critical health care workers needed to support our aging population. For example, the number of nursing assistants — a critical role for elder care — is increasing at a rate of only…