The healthcare industry is facing several challenges that are affecting both patients and providers. Some of the most pressing issues are the impact of strikes, layoffs, and quiet quitting on the healthcare system.
Nurses on Strike
Nurse strikes have become more common in recent years and have been boosted, in part, by the Covid pandemic. Nurses are seeking to improve working conditions and pay, as well as advocating on behalf of the patients they serve. Minnesota’s most recent nurse strike on September 12, 2022, saw 15,000 nurses walk off the job. The strike lasted three days and impacted 15 different hospitals.
As the pandemic unfolded in March 2020, nurses, who are the most numerous health care professionals in the country, were already under pressure owing to reasons such as:
- Retirements outnumbering new entrants to the profession;
- Increased demand for health care from older and terminally ill patients;
- Insufficient workforce support.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects between 2020 and 2030, there will be an average annual 194,500 openings for registered nurses, with employment growing by 9%.
According to the 2020 National Council of State Boards of Nursing and National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers national survey, in 2020, the median age for RNs was 52 years, with over 20% percent saying they plan to retire from nursing within five years. Additionally, the pandemic has rapidly pushed more nurses toward retirement.
Hospital Layoffs
Hospital layoffs have also been on the rise in recent years. The pandemic has exacerbated a long-standing healthcare employment gap especially severe in large, rural states with few potential replacements. In addition, prices for contract workers have increased due to the competition among hospitals across the nation.
Hospitals’ financial difficulties were initially focused on the expenditures associated with responding to Covid-19 and missed revenue owing to delayed care. However, hospital CEOs now say their financial situations are a result of the omicron surge, inflationary pressure, and an increase in recruitment difficulties.
Unfortunately, the cost-cutting measures taken by hospitals left them with an impossible balancing act: the need to keep existing employees while reducing expenses. With less money coming from the government and inflation on the rise, hospitals are now struggling to make ends meet, and layoffs continue.
Quiet Quitting
While nurse strikes and hospital layoffs have gotten most of the attention, another issue affecting healthcare is what’s being called “quiet quitting.” The term has lately caught on thanks to social media, describing a phenomenon in which workers reduce their enthusiasm at work and adhere to the bare minimum standards of their position. Some professionals, particularly Generation Z employees, have embraced the concept of work-life balance improvement. Others see it as a less demanding version of quitting.
The reasons for “quiet quitting” are varied, but some common themes include:
- Feeling overworked and undervalued
- Poor working conditions
- Lack of job satisfaction
- Frustration with the healthcare system
When experienced nurses and other healthcare providers stop being able to provide the best possible care, it disrupts operational efficiency and patient care.
Impacts on Healthcare
The impact of strikes, layoffs, and quiet quitting on the healthcare system is significant. These issues adversely affect patient care, hospital finances, and the ability to attract and retain quality staff. It’s essential to understand the causes and effects of these problems and find ways to address them.
Have you experienced any of these issues in your workplace? Comment below and let us know what actions you are taking to address the issue.