AN ANALYSIS OF CHALLENGES AND DISPUTES AROSE AS A RESULT OF STAFF SHORTAGE IN NURSING HOMES IN DUBLIN

Abstract

Background: Staff shortage in a healthcare environment remains a concern in a worldwide level, in a public and private management. This fact can be associate to several reasons to justify, but at the same time can bring some challenges and disputes due to this shortage, such as harm to the professional’s health and resident’s safety. Objective: The objectives of this study were related to assessment of the challenges and disputes that may arise due to shortage due to the shortage of staff in long-term facilities in Dublin, Ireland. It was further explored how these challenges and disputes can affect professionals who work in these places and residents who live in Nursing Homes. Methods: A cross-sectional study under a questionnaire containing 20 questions was developed using the 5-point Likert scale for better data analysis and distributed in an online platforms. Based on interpretivism philosophy, the data collected from fifth seven healthcare professionals working in nursing homes in Dublin. Conclusion: The findings revealed that all the participants of the survey have reported that the occurrence of understaffing on their workplace is considered at least frequent, resulting in an increase on workload, demotivation and stress level, turning to a snowballing effect causing more shortage of staff due to sickness or injures. The results even showed that in a staff shortage situation, errors related to medication, risk of fall and missed care events are more susceptible to happen, causing a rise on resident’s dissatisfaction as well. Management must address the roots of this shortage of staff and adopt resolute measures, promoting a healthy environment for professionals and safe facility for the residents.