| Hospitals around the country are continually confronted with a number of financial, health care reform, patient safety and personnel shortage challenges (ACHE, 2013). Each one of these challenges in health care impacts the other resulting in risks to patient safety and quality. The shortage of nurses already has ill effects on the United States (US) health care delivery system. The purpose of this study was to examine employee recognition and engagement for Registered Nurses (RNs) as a managerial tool to educate current and future health care administrators, managers, and students to help improve the relationship between management and nursing staff in the health care industry. A review of literature was conducted regarding nurse burnout due to assigned non-nursing tasks and lack of personnel. Critical data was reviewed to provide support and highlight the effect the shortage has on the health care economy. This paper discussed job dissatisfaction that leads to a lack of employee engagement and how to implement employee recognition and address retention issues. This capstone provided insight to the numerous contributing factors that affect the nursing shortage, explored the effects of the shortage on the health care system, and helped identify short-term and long-term solutions to engage employees by promoting recognition. Keywords: Health Care Administration, Dr. Gail Young, nursing shortage, patient care, baby boomers. |
