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"There's no need to rehash the reasons for nurse staffing problems in long-term care facilities. As nurses, we all know the reasons. It is time for solutions, and nurses - administrators and managers, researchers, educators, and clinicians - have a big part in solving this problem. My conviction is based on what I view as the two solutions to staffing problems in nursing facilities.
CREATE ATTRACTIVE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENTS
The first solution is to create workplace environments so attractive to nurses that those who work there will not want to leave, and those who do not work there, will want to. Research has provided some clues. One can start with research on Magnet hospitals. The majority of nurses working in Magnet hospitals identified the following eight essential factors that attracted them to and retained them in the organization (McClure & Hinshaw, 2002):
* Working with other nurses who are clinically competent.
* Good nurse-physician relationships and communication.
* Nurse autonomy and accountability.
* Supportive nurse manager or supervisor.
* Control over nursing practice and practice environment.
* Support for education.
* Adequate nurse staffing.
* Concern for the patient is paramount.
Dynamic, well-educated long-term care nurse leaders and managers...