The Firsthand Accounts Of Nurses Employed At A Saudi Arabian Hospital Experiencing A Shortage Of Nursing Staff

Abstract

Over the past decade, the healthcare industry has faced numerous challenges, and one of the most daunting issues is the shortage of nurses in hospitals. The shortage of nurses in hospitals is a critical issue that negatively impacts the healthcare system. The current situation is marked by an increasing demand for healthcare services coupled with a declining number of qualified nurses available to provide care (Bridges et al., 2019). This discrepancy between supply and demand puts tremendous strain on nurses, impacting their well-being and job satisf[1]action (Hudays et al., 2023). The lack of an optimal nurse-to-patient ratio can lead to increased stress, burnout, inadequate patient care, and compromised patient safety (Griffiths et al., 2021). Numerous studies have highlighted the challenges in maintaining an adequate nursing workforce, including responding to aging populations, retirement, new nurse recruitment, and retaining current nurses (Tamata & Mohammadnezhad, 2023).