South Shore Health Nurses Offer Solutions to Healthcare Workforce Crisis
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Our nation’s healthcare is experiencing a workforce crisis. During an era of significant need healthcare professionals across the country, and here in Massachusetts, are choosing to leave their professions due in part to stress, burnout and retirement, leading to an increased reliance on contract or traveling labor.
The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) recently hosted a special event, Building a Robust Healthcare Workforce in Massachusetts, to address the critical workforce challenges – both preexisting and in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
South Shore Health’s Sharon Stemm, MSN, RN, NE-BC, ACNO Professional Development, took part in an HPC panel discussion on the topic, along with healthcare executives from across Massachusetts.
In the context of the ongoing strain on our health system's capacity and resources, both morning and afternoon panelists – healthcare providers, policymakers, and researchers discussed and identified potential solutions to these current challenges.
A newly released HPC research presentation was shared. It highlighted South Shore Health’s “transition to practice” programs – a beneficial tool, Stemm told the audience, to address the wellbeing, retention and professional development, retention and wellbeing of our nurses.
“We have created a system that engages nurses of all abilities and supports the desire of our nurses to grow within the field of nursing. With that said, these transition programs take time, resources and follow up – whether it is for a new or experienced nurse to move into a specialty area. I am proud that South Shore Health is committed to investing in our nursing workforce by providing these important opportunities for our colleagues.”
“We must think about developing our clinical workforce of the future and our robust partnerships with colleges and workforce development services are extremely important," Stemm added. "We work together to empower and encourage those interested in entering healthcare.”
An additional panel discussion focused on the future of the healthcare workforce, noting that it is critical for Massachusetts to strengthen and support it, whether through increasing capacity for education and training, developing career pathways, exploring licensing reforms, or developing student loan repayment programs.
South Shore Health’s Tim Quigley, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC,Senior Vice President, Special Projects; Suzanne Cray Tessier, Director of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs; Kerriann Campbell, MS, RN, CCRN-K, Clinical Professional Development Specialist and Sharon Perkins, DNP, RN, CRRN, ACNS-BC, Clinical Academic Practice Coordinator also attended the HPC event.
