Nursing shortage, a different challenge in Iran: A systematic review

Abstract

Previous studies on nursing shortage have suggested some of the causes of nursing shortage and presented some strategies to address this problem. →What this article adds:In this study, the causes and strategies for addressing nursing shortage in the world and Iran were prioritized according to their importance. Having compared the causes of nursing shortage and the corresponding strategies, it became clear that increased age of nursing staff was the main cause of nursing shortage in the world, but unwillingness to enter and remain in the nursing profession was the main cause of nursing shortage in Iran. Nevertheless, the main strategy to overcome nursing shortage in Iran and the world is to increase nurses' salaries and rights.

Insecure Employment Contracts during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Need for Participation in Policy Making

“…The nursing shortage for positions in health centers under the supervision of the Iranian health system is a major and multifaceted challenge. The causes of nursing shortages in Iran can be ordered based on priority and importance as follows: unwillingness to enter and stay in the nursing profession, insufficient salaries, low social status, negative perception of nursing being a career primarily for women, low QWL, insufficient support in the workplace, and emigration to other countries [ 45 , 46 ]. However, unwillingness to enter and stay in the nursing profession has been introduced as the main reason behind nursing shortages in Iran [ 45 ].…”

“…The causes of nursing shortages in Iran can be ordered based on priority and importance as follows: unwillingness to enter and stay in the nursing profession, insufficient salaries, low social status, negative perception of nursing being a career primarily for women, low QWL, insufficient support in the workplace, and emigration to other countries [ 45 , 46 ]. However, unwillingness to enter and stay in the nursing profession has been introduced as the main reason behind nursing shortages in Iran [ 45 ]. According to the World Bank, the number of nurses per 1000 population in developed countries has been over 10 during the last decade [ 47 ].…”

“…Therefore, Iranian nurses working in all healthcare settings have been gradually migrating from Iran for a long time [ 64 ]. The exact statistics on the migration status of Iranian nurses are unavailable, but the literature confirms that nurse migration is one of the main reasons for nursing shortages in Iran [ 45 , 64 ].…”

Effectiveness of nurse‐led counselling and education on self‐efficacy of patients with acute coronary syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

“…However, this change in the care plan of ACS patients would need a higher nurse-patient ratio and special training for cardiac department nurses. Nevertheless, we are aware that huge nursing and resource shortages, which are particularly high in developing countries such as Iran (Nasirizad Moghadam et al, 2021;Shamsi & Peyravi, 2020), could prevent applying such nurse-led counselling and education programmes. Therefore, it is recommended that healthcare organizations use a critical approach and analyse the costs and benefits when deciding on the necessary arrangements for the implementation of such programmes to improve the quality of patient care.…”

The Effect of Surface Acting on Job Stress and Cognitive Weariness Among Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Role of Sense of Community

“…Furthermore, nurses practice heavy tasks regarding emotional regulation to fulfill their job requirements due to high market competition and customer-centered services in the medical business environment ( Grandey and Melloy, 2017 ). Similar to the current global nursing shortage ( Spurlock, 2020 ), Iran is experiencing a serious shortage of nurses ( Shamsi and Peyravi, 2020 ). Thus, we proposed that the findings of this study may have international implications for researchers and practitioners interested in nurses’ wellbeing.…”