The Issue of Diversity in the Nursing WorkForce - Research Paper Example

? Contemporary Nursing Issue: Diversity in the Nursing Work Force Introduction The healthcare industry of this world is changing rapidly owing to thereason of change in demands and needs of the customers (i.e. patients). Notably, the number of patients is increasing quite considerably which further demands for a more enhanced working process prevailing in this sector. This enhanced working process is largely dependent on the efficiency and the dedication of the healthcare professionals especially the nursing workforce (Niles, 2011). Hence, in consideration to this significance, the research will emphasize studying a particular issue linked with diversity in nursing workforce within the healthcare sector. The Issue of Diversity in the Nursing Work Force With the changing trends and demands of the healthcare industry, the role of nurses has become quite an important part. Owing to this regard, diversification in nursing workforce is advocated by various healthcare agencies as one of the vital prospects in developing future operations of the healthcare industry. However, there are certain aspects of diversity that impose crucial challenges to the management of different healthcare organizations. It has been noted that diversity in the workforce of nursing can be on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, nationality and culture among others. This facet can further result in causing communication problem, complexity of increased turnover rate, increased conflicts and augmented error in work in the workplace. It can be affirmed that the above depicted aspect not only impacts the operational efficiency of the healthcare organization but also threatens the wellbeing of the patients by a greater degree (Jeffreys, 2008). Thus, owing to these features, diversity in the nursing workforce can be duly considered as an important issue to be discussed. Scope of the Issue The issue concerning nursing workforce diversity has long been witnessed to impose extensive impact upon the healthcare industry. Leaders in this particular industry depict a strong interrelation between diverse nursing workforce and assuring deliverance of effective services to the customers (i.e. patients). However, there are certain critical challenges associated with diversity of nursing workforce in the healthcare that requires be addressing and mitigating by adopting along with executing certain specific measures. The scope of this particular issue can be regarded as quite broader because of the increased level of complexities in the healthcare industry. It is worth mentioning that there certain reasons for which the complexities mainly arise. These reasons comprise ineffective exploitation of accessible resources and lack of capability of the healthcare professionals to deliver quality services to the patients. Laws or Ethical Principles Related To Diversity of Nursing Workforce The activities of nursing workforce generally involve immense responsibility and accountability. In order to ensure conduct of ethical practices in the workplace, the American nursing association developed certain ethical principles that must be followed within the nursing workplace. These ethical principles have been discussed hereunder. Autonomy: Nursing workforce possesses the need for respecting other’s autonomy in their decision making. In this regard, The Patients Self Determination Act of 1990 of the United States depict that people in their end life might not be quite competent enough to take effective decisions, but their right of autonomy cannot be ignored at any given point of time. Owing to this specific factor, nurses should need to treat patients in accordance with their choices (American Nurses Association, n,d.). Beneficence: Nursing workforce should always ensure to deliver positive actions in providing maximum assistance to others (i.e. patient’s). Their approach or conduct should be in serving the best interests or the welfare of the patients. This principle requires the nurses to keep their personal interests aside and devote maximum interest towards performing their work effectively (American Nurses Association, n,d.). Non maleficence: This is among the core oaths that the nursing workforce takes during their recruitment as a nurse. According to this ethical principle, nurses will not in any case hurt or harm the welfare of the patients. This particular principle also signifies that patients should not be harmed by nurses by incorporating any technology or experimental treatments. This also depicts that nurses should implement their necessary skills in a positive direction (American Nurses Association, n,d.). Fidelity: This ethical principle of nursing demands loyalty, fairness and truthfulness from nurses in the workplace. It signifies that nurses should keep their promise of serving the patients to the best of their ability. Commitment is regarded as the base of this principle (American Nurses Association, n,d.). Paternalism: The work of healthcare professionals involves making various crucial decisions like therapy and diagnosis among others. In this regard, nurses and doctors have the ethical responsibility to hide any critical condition of patients that might affect them in an unfavorable manner (American Nurses Association, n,d.). All the aforementioned principles portray ethical responsibilities of nursing workforce in the workplace. Contextually, it is quite important to affirm that the issue concerning diversity in nursing workforce poses certain marginal threat to these ethical principles at large. Notably, owing to diversity aspect, nursing workforce comprise different people from dissimilar background with diverse culture, race and ethical values. For example, the values for nurses belonging to the American culture can often be viewed quite self-reliant and individualistic that further influences their approach towards work. However, nurses belonging to other cultures hardly depict the value of individualism which also influences their ethical approach towards performing efficient work (Ludwick & Silva, 2013). Challenges and Opportunities in Diversity of Nursing workforce Diversity in nursing workforce enables to form a multicultural and multiracial workforce within a particular healthcare setting. However, there are certain potential challenges that management of healthcare organizations often face while delivering effective and quality services to the clients i.e. the patients. In this similar concern, management of a healthcare organization needs to adopt and execute different strategies for managing the challenges or the complexities relating to diverse nursing workforce. Since, values and thinking of people are largely influenced from their respective culture, background and gender, management needs to deal each of them differently. It has also been noted that people from different cultures have their own comfort zone in learning process. Contextually, organizations in the healthcare sector are influenced to provide effective training to nurses in accordance with their cultural and demographic background. Apart from this, communication can also be regarded as a major challenge for the management of healthcare settings to deal with nurses belonging to diverse backg0ound. In addition, another challenge for management is raising conflicts in the workplace. Owing to the differences in values and behavioral attitudes of nurses belonging to different cultural backgrounds, reports of conflicts are quite usual and are increasing rapidly. Hence, it can be affirmed that these entire challenges further act as barriers with respect to optimize the opportunities associated with diversity in the nursing workforce (Sherman, 2013). With regard to analyze the opportunities associated with diversity in the nursing workforce, it can be stated that through diversification, both the healthcare industry and the nursing population can be benefitted by a greater extent. It can be apparently observed in this similar concern that a healthcare organization which possesses a culturally diversified workforce shows less negligence or malpractice in their operations. Furthermore, any healthcare organization that has a set of culturally diversified workforce is quite able to deliver appreciative care to the patients which in turn results in greater optimization towards the welfare of the patients. It can be affirmed that these opportunities associated with the aspect of culturally diversified nursing workforce can only be accomplished by overcoming the challenges depicted above (Jeffreys, 2008). Conclusion From the overall analysis of the research, it can be comprehended that diversification in the nursing workforce might generate severe complexities along with greater opportunities in the modern healthcare industry. Owing to diversification, nursing workforce comprise people who belong to various cultures, ethnicity and nationality with diverse range of thinking. This further imposes extensive impact upon the overall performance of the healthcare organizations in terms of delivering quality along with effective services to the patients. References American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Short definitions of ethical principles and theories familiar words, what do they mean? Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/Resources/Ethics-Definitions.pdf Jeffreys, M. (2008). Dynamics of diversity. Retrieved from http://www.nsna.org/Portals/0/Skins/NSNA/pdf/Imprint_NovDec08_Feat_Jeffreys.pdf Ludwick, R., & Silva, M. C. (2013). Ethics: nursing around the world: cultural values and ethical conflicts. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/Columns/Ethics/CulturalValuesandEthicalConflicts.aspx Niles, N. J. (2011). Basics of the U.S. health care system. United States: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Sherman, R. O. (2013). Leading a multigenerational nursing workforce: issues, challenges and strategies. 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