The Negative Impacts of Fast-Track Nursing During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Submitted by John A Jaramillo
Tags: burnout challenges COVID-19 future of nursing Nurse Education staffing shortages
The COVID-19 pandemic placed unprecedented pressure on global healthcare systems, leading to significant changes in the education and workforce of healthcare professionals. One notable adjustment was the fast-tracking of nursing graduates to meet the overwhelming demand for frontline workers. While this approach addressed immediate staffing shortages, it also introduced long-term challenges to nursing care. These circumstances led to nurses with insufficient education and clinical experience, negatively impacting patient care, workplace dynamics, and the nursing profession (Head, 2022). Traditionally, nursing programs provide extensive clinical rotations in various specialties, allowing students to develop critical thinking, decision-making skills, and technical competence under the supervision of experienced professionals. However, fast-tracked graduates during the pandemic frequently entered the workforce with minimal in-person training due to shortened program durations or virtual simulations. This lack of experience led to increased errors in medication administration, wound care, and other essential procedures; difficulty recognizing subtle changes in patient conditions that require timely intervention; and reliance on more experienced colleagues for guidance, increasing their workload and stress levels (Martin, 2023).
The emotional toll of managing critically ill patients during a pandemic, coupled with insufficient training, created a toxic cycle of stress and self-doubt. Because of this, many new nurses have left the profession within their first year, which has exacerbated staffing shortages and placed additional strain on the remaining staff (Martin, 2023). Healthcare relies on collaboration and trust to function effectively. The presence of underprepared nurses can disrupt this dynamic as more experienced team members may need to compensate for their lack of knowledge or skills. This increases workloads and fosters resentment and frustration among colleagues, undermining team morale and cohesion (White 2023). To mitigate these negative impacts on healthcare systems, educational institutions should provide supplementary training and mentorship for fast-track graduates to bridge any educational gaps. There should also be opportunities for hands-on learning, even in post-graduation settings, to reinforce clinical skills.
While fast-track nursing was necessary to respond to the staffing crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic, its long-term impact on nursing care has been significant. Insufficient education and training have jeopardized patient safety, strained healthcare teams, and contributed to burnout among new nurses (Leaver, 2022). To safeguard the future of the nursing profession, healthcare leaders must address these challenges and ensure that all nurses, regardless of how they enter the field, are adequately prepared to deliver high-quality care.
References:
- Head ML, Acosta S, Bickford EG, Leatherland MA. Impact of COVID-19 on Undergraduate Nursing Education: Student Perspectives. Acad Med. 2022 Mar 1;97(3S):S49-S54. Doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000004530. PMID: 34789659; PMCID: PMC8855759.
- Leaver, Cynthia A. PhD1; Stanley, Joan M. PhD2; Goodwin Veenema, Tener PhD, MPH3. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Future of Nursing Education. Academic Medicine 97(3S):p S82-S89, March 2022. | doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000004528
- Martin B, Kaminski-Ozturk N, O'Hara C, Smiley R. Examining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Burnout and Stress Among U.S. Nurses. J Nurs Regul. 2023 Apr;14(1):4-12. doi: 10.1016/S2155-8256(23)00063-7. Epub 2023 Apr 5. PMID: 37035777; PMCID: PMC10074070.
- White M, Hill G. Special Collection Editorial: Nursing through times of challenge and adversity. Journal of Research in Nursing. 2023;28(6-7):394-400. doi:10.1177/17449871231211733