Applying the Socratic Problem-Solving Approach to a
Healthcare Issue: Nursing Shortages in U.S. Hospitals
Assignment Instructions:
In your healthcare career, you will be confronted with many problems that demand a
solution. By using research skills, you can learn what others are doing and saying about
similar problems. Then, you can analyze the problem and the people and systems it
affects. You can also examine potential solutions and their ramifications. This assessment
allows you to practice this approach with the real-world problem you've selected.
Prepare:
For this assessment, you will analyze the same current healthcare problem or issue topic
area you selected for Assessments 2 and 3. To explore the chosen topic, use the first four
topics of the Socratic Problem-Solving Approach for critical thinking.
- Start by defining the healthcare problem or issue based on the selected healthcare topic.
- Provide details about the problems or issues that are part of the chosen topic, and
identify causes for the problems or issues.
- Identify at least three scholarly or academic peer-reviewed journal articles about the
topic you are discussing by using articles you found for Assessment 2 or by searching the
Capella library using the BSN Program Library Research Guide.
, Introduction
The nursing shortage in the United States has emerged as one of the most pressing
healthcare challenges in recent decades. Nurses form the backbone of the healthcare
workforce, and their availability directly influences patient safety, care quality, and
healthcare outcomes. Despite the critical role of nursing, hospitals and healthcare systems
face persistent difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified nurses. By applying the
Socratic Problem-Solving Approach, this paper will define the nursing shortage as a
healthcare problem, analyze its root causes and consequences, explore the broader
context in which it occurs, and consider potential solutions and their ramifications.
Step 1: Identify the Problem
The problem under discussion is the shortage of nurses in U.S. hospitals. Nursing
shortages manifest as inadequate staffing ratios, longer wait times for patients, increased
nurse workloads, and reduced time for direct patient care. This issue undermines not only
individual patient safety but also hospital efficiency and staff morale. According to Aiken
et al. (2017), hospitals with lower nurse staffing levels are associated with higher
mortality rates, greater patient dissatisfaction, and reduced quality of care. The shortage
represents a systemic problem affecting both the workforce and the populations they
serve.
Step 2: Analyze the Problem
Several factors contribute to the nursing shortage. One key cause is the aging of the
nursing workforce. A large proportion of registered nurses are approaching retirement
age, and insufficient numbers of younger nurses are available to replace them. Another
factor is high turnover due to burnout, which is intensified by long shifts, high patient-to-
nurse ratios, and emotional stress. Dall’Ora et al. (2020) emphasize that burnout among
nurses is both a cause and consequence of shortages, creating a cycle of attrition.
Additionally, nursing schools face capacity constraints due to limited faculty, clinical
placement sites, and funding. As a result, thousands of qualified applicants are turned
Healthcare Issue: Nursing Shortages in U.S. Hospitals
Assignment Instructions:
In your healthcare career, you will be confronted with many problems that demand a
solution. By using research skills, you can learn what others are doing and saying about
similar problems. Then, you can analyze the problem and the people and systems it
affects. You can also examine potential solutions and their ramifications. This assessment
allows you to practice this approach with the real-world problem you've selected.
Prepare:
For this assessment, you will analyze the same current healthcare problem or issue topic
area you selected for Assessments 2 and 3. To explore the chosen topic, use the first four
topics of the Socratic Problem-Solving Approach for critical thinking.
- Start by defining the healthcare problem or issue based on the selected healthcare topic.
- Provide details about the problems or issues that are part of the chosen topic, and
identify causes for the problems or issues.
- Identify at least three scholarly or academic peer-reviewed journal articles about the
topic you are discussing by using articles you found for Assessment 2 or by searching the
Capella library using the BSN Program Library Research Guide.
, Introduction
The nursing shortage in the United States has emerged as one of the most pressing
healthcare challenges in recent decades. Nurses form the backbone of the healthcare
workforce, and their availability directly influences patient safety, care quality, and
healthcare outcomes. Despite the critical role of nursing, hospitals and healthcare systems
face persistent difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified nurses. By applying the
Socratic Problem-Solving Approach, this paper will define the nursing shortage as a
healthcare problem, analyze its root causes and consequences, explore the broader
context in which it occurs, and consider potential solutions and their ramifications.
Step 1: Identify the Problem
The problem under discussion is the shortage of nurses in U.S. hospitals. Nursing
shortages manifest as inadequate staffing ratios, longer wait times for patients, increased
nurse workloads, and reduced time for direct patient care. This issue undermines not only
individual patient safety but also hospital efficiency and staff morale. According to Aiken
et al. (2017), hospitals with lower nurse staffing levels are associated with higher
mortality rates, greater patient dissatisfaction, and reduced quality of care. The shortage
represents a systemic problem affecting both the workforce and the populations they
serve.
Step 2: Analyze the Problem
Several factors contribute to the nursing shortage. One key cause is the aging of the
nursing workforce. A large proportion of registered nurses are approaching retirement
age, and insufficient numbers of younger nurses are available to replace them. Another
factor is high turnover due to burnout, which is intensified by long shifts, high patient-to-
nurse ratios, and emotional stress. Dall’Ora et al. (2020) emphasize that burnout among
nurses is both a cause and consequence of shortages, creating a cycle of attrition.
Additionally, nursing schools face capacity constraints due to limited faculty, clinical
placement sites, and funding. As a result, thousands of qualified applicants are turned
