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Exit Lab Newsletter #1: Nurses Cite Staffing and Burnout as Most Pressing Issue Impacting Care

Writer's picture: Kevin MackeyKevin Mackey

Under the Microscope


Over the past six weeks, leading up to our Live Lab event on Nursing-led Innovation on June 26th, 2024, we’ve spent time reviewing published research, talking to nurses, conducting surveys, and taking the pulse of what our front-line healthcare leaders have to say about innovation and patient care.


The results were pretty unanimous: the main issue that nurses face is consistently being understaffed. This leads to burnout, process breakdown, and, in general, patient care that suffers. 


According to a study published by the American Nurses Association (ANA), more than half of the nurses surveyed reported feeling burnt out, and 70% cited insufficient staffing as a key contributor to their stress levels. Additionally, a survey by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that understaffing was linked to higher rates of patient complications and lower overall quality of care.


Anecdotal conversations with nurses who have seen the industry change over the past couple of decades have said it comes down to cost-cutting and red tape. Mick Hopkins, a 28-year bedside nurse and CEO/Founder of True Concepts Medical Technologies, remarked, “There needs to be a dramatic shift in how our healthcare system is run and utilized. The answers are there, but the right people aren’t being asked to innovate solutions.” Hopkins' sentiments are supported by data from the Institute of Medicine, which highlights that administrative tasks consume nearly 30% of nurses' time, detracting from patient care.


“There’s a boatload of innovation being left on the table,” said Melissa Cheeks, DNP, RN. She is actively working with the University of Cincinnati’s College of Nursing to bring high-quality nursing innovators to their students and faculty as a way to get them thinking early about bringing innovation into their work. UC is even looking to eventually include an

Innovation Certificate as a means of making their graduates more prepared and successful in their careers. Cheeks emphasized the importance of integrating innovative thinking into nursing education, a viewpoint corroborated by a recent survey from the National League for Nursing, which found that 85% of nursing programs are incorporating innovation and technology to better prepare students for the evolving healthcare landscape.


To address these challenges, hospitals and healthcare systems are beginning to explore a variety of strategies. Some are investing in advanced nurse scheduling software to optimize staffing levels and reduce burnout. Others are adopting telehealth solutions and remote monitoring to improve patient care efficiency and allow nurses to focus more on direct patient interactions.


Join us next week to hear from three innovators who took matters into their own hands to create what they wanted to see in the world. They are:


True Concepts Medical Technologies: Developed by a 28 year bedside nurse, Mick Hopkins, RN, True Concepts has a patented dual syringe technology that tackles false positive or false negative diagnoses of sepsis. Its dual syringe capability also can provide an immediate saline flush when administering certain cardiac drugs.


EZ Induction: Created by a nurse out of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Abby Hess, APRN, DNP, and commercialized in partnership with Little Seed, EZ Induction is a game that helps calm kids who are anxious before going under anesthesia. The game promotes calm breathing while also positively distracting the young patient as they are administered. 


Primary Record: Founded by Jean Ross, RN, Primary Record is dedicated to innovating medical record-keeping by making it easy for families to see their and approved loved ones’ information coming from multiple EHRs. 


Data and Key Stats Behind Nurse Burnout and Staffing Challenges

Source: Quantum Health


This statistic reflects a systemic issue where emergency departments (EDs) are overwhelmed by patients who lack access to regular primary care. The reliance on EDs for primary care is a strain on the system, leading to increased wait times, higher costs, and overworked staff. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, such misuse of EDs contributes significantly to overcrowding and inefficiency.


The high turnover rate among novice nurses is alarming. According to Quantum Health, the primary reasons for this exodus include job stress, lack of support, and insufficient compensation. This attrition exacerbates the staffing crisis and impacts the quality of patient care.


The relatively short span of nursing careers can be attributed to the physically and emotionally demanding nature of the job. Along with the research we have reported here, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation corroborated through their studies that many nurses leave the profession early due to burnout, insufficient career advancement opportunities, and the intense work environment.


Burnout remains a critical issue in nursing. A study published by the National Institute of Health indicates that the primary factors leading to burnout include high patient-to-nurse ratios, long working hours, and inadequate support from management. Burnout not only affects nurses' well-being but also the quality of patient care they provide.


Workarounds are improvised solutions that nurses employ to bypass systemic issues and inefficiencies. While these workarounds are often necessary to ensure patient care continuity, they can also indicate deeper problems within the healthcare system. A study in the National Library of Medicine found that frequent workarounds are linked to increased risks of errors and compromised patient safety.


So, Who’s Taking Action?


Besides the presenters we previously highlighted, we identified several other innovative nurses that have taken decisive steps to address the critical issues in healthcare, particularly those affecting their patients. Here’s a look at others we’ve found who are making a difference.


Nurse Approved: Started by Rebecca Love, RN, BS, MSN, FIEL, Nurse Approved leverages the power of the largest, most trusted third-party nurse validation network. They have a certification awarded by USPTO to demonstrate their seal of approval.


TeachRN: Started by Jenny Finnell, MSN, CRNA, TeachRN offers nurses training, education, and prep for their CRNA exam. They also offer staffing services to help combat that problem!


Lavender: Focused on mental health, Lavender offers services and products that support the well-being of healthcare professionals and patients alike.


Hero Medical: Patient monitoring and a wearable device for emergency care. 


Jill Byrne: Jill Byrne, PhD, RN, developed a cooling vest that Cardinal Health has brought to market, which is expected to significantly benefit both patients and healthcare workers with their cooling system.


The Laxo Device: An innovative surgical drain occlusion device that reduces length of stay and readmission rates for brain hemorrhage patients.


Arise Healthcare: Focused on holistic healthcare solutions, Arise Healthcare aims to improve patient outcomes through their hands-free patient turning solution. 


Seneca Devices: Known for their Easy Shift device, Seneca Devices offers solutions that make patient handling and care more efficient and safer for healthcare providers.


Roxana Reyna, RN: Specializing in neonatal care, Roxana Reyna’s work in the NICU is making a significant impact on the health and well-being of newborns through her work with JnJ.


Where to Learn More?


As mentioned, we’ll be presenting a lot more of our findings during our Live Lab event on June 26th, focused on Nursing-led Innovation. It is open to anyone interested in being part of our community to help advancements and innovations get funded, commercialized, and adopted in our healthcare systems. If that’s you, sign up to attend in person at University of Cincinnati’s 1819 building, or you can attend remotely through video feed.

In the meantime, these are also some great articles that helped influence our understanding of the state of nursing-led innovation. 



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