CRITICAL CARE READINESS: UPGRADING SKILLS TO TACKLE GLOBAL HEALTH CHALLENGES

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the global healthcare workforce crisis, with an alarming shortage of nurses. Adequate nurse staffing is essential for a safe and healthy clinical environment. However, as the pandemic swept across the world, it exacerbated the existing staffing issues, particularly affecting nurses. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic in January 2020, leading to millions of infections and a surge in patient admissions. Nurses, who play a vital role in healthcare delivery across various settings, including acute care facilities and longterm care services, found themselves under immense pressure. The WHO's State of the World's Nursing report revealed a global shortage of 5.9 million nurses, further aggravated by the strain imposed by the pandemic on global healthcare systems. Disturbingly, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) predicts a shortage of over 10 million nurses by 2030 if no interventions are made. This shortage results from various factors, including clinical exposures, nurse sickness, burnout, and the need to attend to family members at home. This paper sheds light on the critical nurse staffing issue that has gained prominence due to the pandemic and emphasizes the urgency of addressing this crisis to ensure quality patient care.