NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 2 Needs Analysis for Change  NHS-FPX 6008 Economics and Decision Making in Health Care 

Needs Analysis for Change Systematic evaluation, also known as needs analysis, is a crucial process for healthcare organizations to identify areas for improvement and implement effective changes. This paper will analyze the economic issue of nursing shortages at Riverside Community Hospital, a pressing concern within the healthcare system. We will explore the impact of these shortages on the hospital, staff, and the community while identifying causes and proposing solutions to ensure better patient care and financial stability.  Summary of the Economic Issues of Nurse Shortages Nursing shortages at Riverside Community Hospital pose a significant financial strain. Alarmingly, the nursing workforce shrunk by over 100,000 registered nurses between 2020 and 2021, a considerable portion being young (under 35) (Lucy et al., 2024). At Riverside Community Hospital (RCH), the nursing workforce shortage has been highlighted since the COVID-19 pandemic, and since then, the issues associated with nursing shortages have not been resolved (Seiu121rn.org, 2023). This shortage burdens my colleagues’ work, increasing workloads, and leading to burnout and job dissatisfaction. Further, high turnover rates due to understaffing and overtime compromise the quality of care and potentially lead to safety risks. Data shows that the average nurse-to-patient ratio is nine-to-thousand, which contributes to medical errors and adverse events (Lucy et al., 2024). The RCH can have financial strain due to turnover, decreased patient satisfaction, damaging reputation, and discourage new hires.  Moreover, it impacts the community negatively, as patients experience longer wait times and potentially lower quality of care due to understaffing. This can have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations who already face limited access to healthcare. Among the ten states with the most significant expected nursing shortages include California (18%) in 2035 (Rosseter, 2024). Addressing this issue is critical to ensure both quality patient care and financial stability for the hospital. A key contributing factor to the shortage is the high turnover rates among the nurses, often caused by job dissatisfaction and heavy workloads. The data shows that in the US, 58% of the nurses leave the workforce in the first two years of their job from hospital settings. Generally, the reasons recorded show burnout 45.1%, fatigue 49.7%, and emotional exhaustion 50.8%. But this percentage of leaving in the first two years extends to 62% at RCH (Zippia, 2022). Socioeconomic or Diversity Disparities The nursing shortages at RCH can disproportionately impact specific patient populations seeking care services due to socio-economic disparities in healthcare access. For instance, low-income and uninsured patients often rely on public hospitals like RCH for essential medical care. Now, RCH is a 517-bed hospital that caters to acute care patients and actively engages in the emergency department. With fewer nurses on staff, these patients might face longer wait times and lower-quality care due to rushed interactions or limited time for thorough assessments (Udina et al., 2020). Moreover, Riverside County is part of the Inland Empire and has the highest diverse population, with Hispanics/Latinos the largest, followed by Whites and other races. This means, a significant population speaks languages other than English, prominently Spanish. A lack of sufficient bilingual nurses can create communication challenges, hindering effective care for non-English speaking patients. A study by Qi et al. (2023), explicitly discusses that demographic characteristics such as race, age, and ethnicity caused disparities in healthcare access. It also discusses that socio-economic conditions, including poverty level, educational level, and insurance type, play a role in healthcare access. This study significantly discusses that private insurance, high educational attainment, and being White bring in better healthcare services like better diabetic medications and better vaccination options. Low education attainment, gender differences, and other factors hinder access to high-quality care, damaging the principles of equity that demand the division of resources based on needs. Another study highlights that limited access to healthcare services disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities, low-income populations, and rural residents. These disparities are often exacerbated by a shortage of healthcare professionals in underserved communities, demanding a strategic plan to fill this gap (Mohajer, 2023) Evidence-Based Sources The nursing shortages at RCH necessitate immediate attention due to the detrimental impact on patient care, staff well-being, and financial stability. Research offers evidence-based solutions that RCH can implement. Firstly, the work environment and retention strategies should be improved. A study by Gil et al. (2022), fo