Becker's Clinical Quality & Infection Control

CLIC_May_June_2025

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21 NURSING SPOTLIGHT The care 'sweet spot' nursing leaders seek amid changes By Mariah Taylor T he nursing industry has been changing rapidly since the pandemic with workforce trends shifting, new technology rising to the surface and another generation coming into practice. In an evolving industry, leaders are doing their best to anticipate the next big hurdles. Here, four leaders share their predictions for changes and challenges coming to nursing in the next few years: Note: Responses have been lightly edited. Debra Albert, DNP, RN. Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services at NYU Langone (New York City): For nursing we are seeing a promising period of advancement, as technology and changing demographics reshape healthcare delivery. At NYU Langone, we are working towards amplifying human connection that defines nursing, allowing for more personalized care while addressing the complex challenges of staffing and knowledge transfer. We're leveraging predictive analytics to bring critical information from medical records to the point of care, providing decision support for front-line clinicians. This ensures the right care at the right time, while particularly benefiting our new graduate nurses. Our goal is to enhance nursing expertise — taking away task-oriented work to free up more face-to-face time with patients. With five generations of nurses currently in the workforce, healthcare organizations must recognize that one solution doesn't fit all. Our approach involves bringing forward the voices of nurses across all generations to craft solutions that meet both their needs and those of our patients — finding that sweet spot that serves everyone. Christine Alexander, MD. President and CEO of MetroHealth (Cleveland): I think you hear a lot of healthcare systems talking about people practicing at the highest level of their license — really maximizing their scope. We're really focusing on that expanded skill set. One of the areas we're moving our RNs into is helping with access for patients. Because no matter where you go, or which health system you're talking to, access is a huge issue and concern. Our registered nurses have very advanced skills, and we're looking to have them more engaged in higher levels of patient care that directly improve access. We've done some really innovative work with nurse-led clinics. The reality is, we don't have enough doctors or advanced practice providers to see all the patients out there. And patients are sicker and more complex than ever. So we're asking: How do we meaningfully tap into the talent we already have? We feel strongly that this is where our nurses can really excel. Candace Mori, PhD, RN. Interim Chief Patient Care and Nursing Officer at MetroHealth (Cleveland): It's no surprise there's a nursing shortage. That's happening everywhere. Over the next five years, we need to start thinking differently. How can we be more efficient in the care we're providing? What additional resources can we implement to support our nurses and make their work more efficient? I think that's the direction things are heading, at least over the next five years. But even today, it's exciting to see our nurses working at the top of their license, from our PCNAs to our LPNs to our RNs. That's what they're trained to do, and it's what they want to do. Kevin Zeng, MSN, RN. Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President at Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center: Workforce. That's a big word, but what I mean is this: Ever since I went to nursing school, I don't think the Bureau of Labor Statistics has ever published a projection without including a nursing shortage. Right now, projections are showing a 6% decrease in the U.S. nursing workforce by 2032. I do think that, as a country, across the public sector, private sector and legislative efforts, we still haven't put enough focus on this issue. I'm not saying it's been ignored, but it hasn't been prioritized the way it needs to be. Our workforce numbers are going down, the workforce is aging, and this trend extends across the population as well. That is the biggest challenge. Looking ahead to the next five years, I think the most impactful change will come from generative AI, a technology and care model transformation driven by necessity. We'll need to figure out how to do the same work, or more, with fewer people. That means getting creative with how care is delivered — not just in nursing, but across healthcare. And I believe generative AI will be the single most impactful force driving that change. n "Over the next five years, we need to start thinking differently. How can we be more efficient in the care we're providing? What additional resources can we implement to support our nurses and make their work more efficient? I think that's the direction things are heading, at least over the next five years." — Dr. Candace Mori

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