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Khadija Shah, MScN Scholar at Aga Khan University.
A
healthy workforce is essential for the global economy, and healthcare
institutions cannot function without the competence of nurses. The economic
significance of advanced nursing is often underestimated under Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) 8, which encourages decent jobs and economic prosperity.
Many nurses today have enhanced expertise that enables them to manage difficult
patient problems and spearhead sophisticated digital health initiatives.
However,
in many healthcare settings, they are still seen as basic workers rather than
specialist professionals. This disparity in recognition constitutes a
significant impediment to professional development and economic stability in
the global healthcare industry. Furthermore, the nursing workforce is
culturally diverse, serving patients from a variety of backgrounds, and
cultural competence is required to provide equitable care. Beyond professional
pride, addressing this is essential to creating strong, inclusive health
systems. For long-term healthcare viability, all stakeholders must participate
in this discussion (Campinha-Bacote,
2002; Lapinskaitė & Vidžiūnaitė, 2020).
The
foundation of advanced nursing practice is the mastery of specialized medical
technologies and complex clinical ideas. Hospital cost-efficiency is
significantly improved by nurses with MScN-level training who use
evidence-based techniques to shorten hospital stays and eliminate medical
errors. Expertise outpaces traditional caregiving in integrating tools like
computerized clinical decision support systems and remote patient monitoring.
Furthermore, integrating advanced digital tools requires expertise far beyond
traditional caregiving. Health systems lose out on the chance to optimize the
output and influence of their most important workforce when they do not
acknowledge this "knowledge work" and the significance of diversity
in care delivery. Economic research demonstrates that funding nurse education,
professional independence, and cultural competency improves patient outcomes
and reduces systemic expenses (Organization,
2016, 2017, 2021). Consequently, recognizing nursing
expertise is a strategic financial investment in national advancement (Baumann
& Shaw, 2022). In conclusion, a significant change
in our appreciation of the nursing profession is necessary to achieve SDG 8 in
healthcare. Instead of viewing nursing as an expense to be controlled, we must
view it as a resource to be developed. Professional growth, training in
cultural competency, and equitable remuneration for individuals with advanced
clinical knowledge should be given top priority by healthcare administration.
We can only keep the expertise needed to handle. To meet SDG 8, healthcare must
prioritize fair compensation and career growth. Supportive environments are
essential for retaining experts to meet future global health demands. I urge
organizations to recognize nursing’s economic and sociocultural value.
Fostering 'decent work' and diversity is essential to mitigating future global
health crises.
Reference:
Baumann, S. L., & Shaw, H. K. (2022).
Improving global health and nursing’s international influence. Nursing Science Quarterly, 35(3), 368-373.
Campinha-Bacote, J. (2002). The
process of cultural competence in the delivery of healthcare services: A model
of care. Journal of transcultural nursing, 13(3), 181-184.
Lapinskaitė, I., & Vidžiūnaitė,
S. (2020). Assessment of the sustainable economic development goal 8: decent
work and economic growth in g20 countries.
Organization, W. H. (2016). Global strategic directions for
strengthening nursing and midwifery 2016-2020. World Health Organization.
Organization, W.
H. (2017). Optimizing the contributions of the nursing and midwifery workforce
to achieve universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals
through education, research and practice.
Organization, W. H. (2021). Global strategic directions for nursing and
midwifery 2021-2025. World Health Organization.
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