Misleading Research Fuels Unnecessary Fears About Innovative Health Care Advancements

A recent article in Medical Care Journal claims hospitals are reverting to outdated team nursing models, substituting registered nurses with lower-paid, less qualified staff. This depiction does not align with the innovative care models health care systems are using today.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed gaps in health care, making it imperative to move away from pre-pandemic data and embrace the new realities and advancements in care delivery across the continuum. Modern health care demands modern solutions.

Today’s nurse leaders are collaborating closely with clinicians to implement new care models and advanced technology to ensure safe staffing and optimal patient care. Through AONL’s Learning Community, more than 400 health organizations have shared how they are developing models consisting of an array of professionals such as pharmacists, respiratory therapists, virtual care nurses and advanced practice providers, among others. These approaches, as demonstrated in an AONL white paper, can help front-line nurses practice at the top of their license and focus on complex care, leading to higher satisfaction and reduced burnout.

The article's focus on mandated nurse staffing ratios as a primary indicator of quality and cost effectiveness is too narrow. It overlooks other critical factors like clinician expertise, patient acuity and care models which are pivotal in delivering high-quality health care and support health care worker well-being. The assumption that hospitals are primarily driven by cost reduction is contradicted by real-world data showing significant investments in labor, which comprise 60% of hospital expenses, with wages and benefits growing substantially over the past decade.

Furthermore, the article mischaracterizes the state of the nursing workforce. While the nursing profession is experiencing growth, the shortage continues as nurses enter retirement age and the demand for health care increases due to an aging population. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 193,100 openings for RNs each year through 2032 when factoring in nurse retirements and workforce exits. As patients increasingly access health care from their homes and along the care continuum, nurses have more opportunities to work outside of hospitals. We need nurses in these settings and we need nurses working within the hospital environment.

Addressing today’s challenges requires collaboration between nurse leaders, clinicians, academia, regulation, health care organizations and policymakers. We need to base our discussions on accurate, current data and embrace the innovative care models that are proving effective in real-world settings. Let’s work collectively to create meaningful solutions for the future.