Healthcare Workforce Shortages

Healthcare workforce shortages remain a significant challenge for many healthcare organizations, affecting access to care, patient outcomes, and the well-being of healthcare professionals. These shortages result in longer waiting lists, increased patient load for the few available health care workers, and an increased rate of poor health worker morale and, thus, poor patient care. Challenges associated with health workforce shortages include high employee attrition, an ageing health workforce, inadequate production lines and inequalities across rural and other hard-to-fill areas. To address this concern, there is a need for policies, force or workforce wellness initiatives, and other forms of solutions, including telehealth.

I chose this topic because workforce shortages directly impact patient care and system efficiency. As I have seen in my professional practice as a nurse, scarcity results in stress and fatigue among healthcare workers, slow delivery of services among health facilities, and negative impacts on patients’ satisfaction levels. These experiences have encouraged me to continue to search for answers to eliminating these shortages and provide better results for the healthcare industry in terms of human resources. This paper reviews three articles, and all three articles are published in peer-reviewed journals that focus on the effects of workforce shortage through the lens of policy, addressing burnout and utilizing telepresence solutions.

Discussion of Research

Research and Selection Process

Conducting research for this assessment required a structured and systematic approach to identifying credible, peer-reviewed academic sources. I started with the Capella Library, which is an extensive database that provides evidence-based research from peer-reviewed articles. In order to focus my research on the subject of the shortage of health workers, I used the most important databases: PubMed, CINAHL, and ProQuest Health & Medicine.

When it came to finding information about staff policies and issues with staffing, a legal database, PubMed became particularly beneficial since it is well-known and highly rated amongst medical databases. CINAHL, which focuses on the nursing and allied health literature, enlightens the author on essential areas of concern like burnout, recruitment, and workforce retention. On the other hand, the ProQuest Health & Medicine database provided an outlook into various healthcare workforce issues and literature, such as using telehealth as a staffing model.

To refine my search, I applied Boolean operators (AND, OR) to combine relevant terms and improve search precision. Initially, using a general term like “healthcare workforce shortages” produced an overwhelming number of results, many of which lacked direct relevance. To refine my research, I used keywords: ‘healthcare workforce shortages and provider burnout’, ‘nursing shortages and workforce incentives’, and ‘telehealth and healthcare staffing solutions’.

Furthermore, I specified filters for sources that were published between the years 2020 and 2025 in peer-reviewed publications to allow only the most credible sources in the analysis. Based on a critique of the abstracts and methods of the available articles, three articles relevant to policy proposal, burnout as a workforce concern, and telehealth as a staffing strategy were selected.

Assessing the Credibility of the Information Sources

Ensuring that the selected sources were credible and evidence-based was a crucial part of the research process. Each article met rigorous academic credibility standards, having been published in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals, including Human Resources for Health (workforce burnout and healthcare retention), Croatian Medical Journal (policy and workforce distribution strategies), and BMC Health Services Research (telehealth integration and workforce augmentation). Recency was prioritized, with all articles published between 2020 and 2025, ensuring the findings remained current, applicable, and relevant to modern healthcare workforce challenges.

To further enhance credibility, the authors were healthcare workforce academicians, healthcare policy analysts, and medical researchers from different universities/healthcare organizations. All of the studies used empirical research methods and employed methods of case studies, policy analysis, and longitudinal workforce research, giving accurate and factual results. These factors ensured that the sources provided reliable and credible information as they offered accurate, bias-free and useful information on the healthcare workforce shortage.

In the first article, “What is Known About Pediatric Nurse Burnout: A Scoping Review,” Buckley et al. (2020) introduce the idea that burnout is the main cause of health worker shortages; thus, mental health support and better staffing policies must be integrated to develop strategies to restore nurses. In the second article, by Džakula et al. (2022), entitled “Health Workforce Shortage – Doing the Right Things or Doing Things Right?” the respective question and rationale for policy-based solutions include the choice between augmenting the number of health care professionals or improving workforce productivity.

The third article, ‘Health Workforce Perceptions on Telehealth Augmentation Opportunities,’ discusses how the issue of telehealth does away with staffing constraints, as it lightens the burdens of healthcare providers and increases general access to care, especially in areas of shortage.

Notably, these sources therefore offer balanced information on the notion of workforce shortages, encompassing policy, prevention of efficacy, and technology integration.

Annotated Bibliography

Buckley, L., Berta, W., Cleverley, K., Medeiros, C., & Widger, K. (2020). What is known about paediatric nurse burnout: a scoping review. Human Resources for Health, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-020-0451-8

This article presents a scoping review of pediatric nurse burnout, examining key factors that contribute to burnout, its impact on workforce retention, and strategies for prevention. The study identified long working hours, emotional exhaustion, and shortage of staff as key factors in burnout, more specifically, how they serve to increase turnover and the severity of workforce deficits. The results remain salient for addressing many issues related to the healthcare workforce since burnout is a key driver of staff turnover that only worsens shortages in different care environments.

The article also describes possible measures that may be taken to overcome it, including mental health support, fair distribution of workloads, and implementing policies of the institutions. They have put a lot of emphasis on supporting their ideas and theories by using empirical studies, systematic reviews, and current workforce data, making it a good resource in the academic setting. Although the general discussion of the article is based on the nursing professionals in pediatrics, its implications are wider and can be applied to workforce retention. Altogether, this source is rather valuable as it offers important overviews of the current issue of workforce sustenance and insightful recommendations for policy-making concerning the staff affected by burnout.

Džakula, A., Relić, D., & Michelutti, P. (2022). Health workforce shortage – doing the right things or doing things right? Croatian Medical Journal, 63(2), 107–109. https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2022.63.107

This article provides an evaluation of global healthcare workforce deficits and whether solutions should be oriented toward increasing healthcare workers or improving the management of those already in the system. The authors argue that while increasing the number of trained professionals is necessary, improving workforce efficiency, retention, and policy-driven interventions is equally crucial. The study provides a comparative analysis of workforce policies in various healthcare systems, exploring how countries are addressing staffing shortages through recruitment incentives, redistribution of healthcare professionals, and resource allocation improvements.

The article raises important questions about long-term workforce sustainability, urging policymakers to balance workforce expansion with systemic efficiency enhancements. Though conceptual rather than empirical, the article’s relevance lies in its policy-driven perspective, offering strategic insights for healthcare leaders, workforce planners, and government agencies. Its publication in the Croatian Medical Journal, a peer-reviewed source, enhances its credibility, making it a valuable resource for understanding structural approaches to addressing workforce shortages.

Thomas, L. T., Lee, C. M. Y., McClelland, K., Nunis, G., Robinson, S., & Norman, R. (2023). Health workforce perceptions on telehealth augmentation opportunities. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09174-4

This article explores how telehealth can be used to address healthcare workforce shortages by expanding service accessibility, reducing provider workload, and improving patient care efficiency. Through qualitative interviews and survey data, the study assesses healthcare professionals’ perceptions of telehealth adoption as a workforce solution, identifying both benefits and challenges. Key findings suggest that telehealth significantly reduces patient wait times and allows providers to manage higher patient volumes. Yet, barriers such as technology access, regulatory constraints, and provider resistance must be addressed for broader implementation.

The study’s use of real-world healthcare provider perspectives, policy discussions, and case studies strengthens its empirical value. As workforce shortages continue to strain healthcare systems, telehealth emerges as a viable long-term strategy for mitigating staffing issues, especially in rural and underserved regions. Published in BMC Health Services Research, a highly reputable journal in healthcare policy and service delivery, this article provides critical insights into the integration of technology as a workforce management tool.

Summary

Through the process of creating this annotated bibliography, I was able to learn several valuable lessons on how best to approach the research, methods of evaluating sources, as well as understanding some of the key challenges facing the healthcare workforce. Using a variety of keyword searches with specific search parameters, I improved my understanding of how Boolean operators are used, how to filter or exclude irrelevant information, and how to critique the quality sources in terms of their peer review.

This has given importance to the credibility of the journal, the author’s authority, and the timeliness and relevance of the sources to the healthcare industry. Choosing articles from BMC Health Services Research, Croatian Medical Journal and Human Resources for Health provided me with an opportunity to consider policy-driven concepts of workforce solutions, burnout staffing issues and the opportunity of telehealth to address shortages.

This research process also pointed out the complexities of managing healthcare workforce deficits: policies, programs towards clinicians’ health and well-being, and the use of technology. I was also able to identify how policy, workforce, and wide-ranging digital health solutions meet on the subject of workable staffing approaches. Because of this, it will be useful in future assessments, particularly in decision-making processes and in developing a clear structure for accumulating relevant academic sources.

References

Buckley, L., Berta, W., Cleverley, K., Medeiros, C., & Widger, K. (2020). What is known about paediatric nurse burnout: a scoping review. Human Resources for Health, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-020-0451-8

Džakula, A., Relić, D., & Michelutti, P. (2022). Health workforce shortage – doing the right things or doing things right? Croatian Medical Journal, 63(2), 107–109. https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2022.63.107

Thomas, L. T., Lee, C. M. Y., McClelland, K., Nunis, G., Robinson, S., & Norman, R. (2023). Health workforce perceptions on telehealth augmentation opportunities. BMC Health Services Research, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09174-4

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Assessment 2-Applying Research skills

The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to document a list of research references, along with key information about each; the detail about the reference is the annotation. Developing this annotated bibliography will create a foundation of knowledge about your chosen problem or issue.

Prepare
Conduct research in the Capella library to find a total of three scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles in relation to a selected healthcare problem or issue presented in the Assessment 02 Supplement: Applying Research Skills [PDF] Download Assessment 02 Supplement: Applying Research Skills [PDF] resource. You must select your healthcare-related issue or problem from the topic areas presented in this resource.

Important Note: Conduct a library search as needed. Review the BSN Nursing Program Library Research Guide for assistance. Be sure to review journal articles published within the past three to five years.

Healthcare Workforce Shortages

Write Your Paper
Write a 3–5 page paper in which you include the following:

• Topic Identification
  • Select one of the healthcare problems or issues presented in the Assessment 02 Supplement: Applying Research Skills [PDF] resource. Write a brief overview of the healthcare problem or issue. In your overview:
• Summarize the healthcare problem or issue, including describing its professional relevance.
  • Describe your interest in the problem or issue.
  • Describe any professional experience you have with this topic.
• Discussion of Research
  • Discuss your research and selection process for each of the three journal articles you have chosen to include in your annotated bibliography.
  • Describe your process of applying library research skills to identify the journal articles relevant to the healthcare problem or issue you are researching.
    • Identify the keywords you used to select the articles.
    • Describe the criteria you used to select the resources, including the names of the databases you used.
    • What was the process like to locate relevant articles?
  • Assess the credibility of the information sources.
    • Determine whether each resource is from an academic, peer-reviewed journal.
    • Determine whether the publication is current (published within the last 3–5 years).
    • Determine whether information in the academic peer-reviewed journal article is still relevant.
  • Assess the relevance of the information sources.
    • Explain how the healthcare problem or issue is addressed in each source.
    • Discuss what kind of contribution each resource provides.
• Annotated Bibliography
  • Summarize each of the three current academic, peer-reviewed journal articles you chose, using the annotated bibliography organizational format. The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to document a list of references along with key information about each one. The detail about the reference is the annotation. Developing this annotated bibliography will create a foundation of knowledge about the selected topic. In your annotated bibliography:
    • List each full reference in APA format, followed immediately by its annotation.
      • Present your three current, annotated references in alphabetical order, according to the reference citation.
      • Double-space each reference and format it with a hanging indent.
      • Provide the full APA reference citation, including the author, date, title, publisher or publication, and any additional information required by APA style.
    • Write the annotation (summary) for each citation in paragraph form, using approximately 150 words (or 1–3 paragraphs) for each citation. Make sure to cite the article in your summary. Include the following components for each annotation:
      • Identify the purpose of the article.
      • Summarize the article.
      • Include the conclusions and findings of the article.
• Summary
  • In a separate paragraph or two at the end of the paper, summarize what you learned from the process of developing the annotated bibliography.

Academic Requirements
Your academic writing is expected to conform to the following requirements:

• Writing: Produce text with minimal grammar, usage, spelling, and mechanical errors.
• Sources: Integrate into text appropriate use of current scholarly sources, evidence, and citation style. Use the Evidence and APA guidelines provided. Cite the reference in its summary.
• Formatting: Include a title page and reference page, Times New Roman, 12 point.
• Length: Complete no more than 3–5 typed, double-spaced pages, in addition to the title page and reference page.
• References: Although you are citing your three scholarly or academic peer-reviewed journal articles within the Annotated Bibliography section of this paper, be sure to also list your citations on a reference page at the end of your paper, along with any other resources you may have included.