Increase salaries, apply technology to end the "thirst" for nurses

Japan is facing a serious shortage of nurses - Photo: NIKKEI ASIA

As Tuoi Tre Online reports, many hospitals are facing a shortage of nurses but recruitment remains difficult. Many readers have pointed out the reasons for this situation.

"High tuition fees, low salary after graduation, college and university degrees but the job position is not as good as anyone else's. High work pressure, often night shifts, unable to take care of family, spending own money to improve qualifications but the salary does not compensate," reader Tuan Do wrote.

Another reader also shared: "The profession is not respected, from salary to the attitude of medical colleagues and patients' families."

In fact, this does not only happen in Vietnam.

Up to 90% of nurses in Japan are female and they have difficulty balancing family life and children with a demanding work schedule, which often includes night shifts.

A survey released in March this year by the All-Japan Confederation of Municipal and Prefectural Workers published in The Mainichi daily newspaper found that nearly 80 percent of nurses, clinical laboratory technicians and clerical staff working at public hospitals have thought about quitting their jobs.

Japan could face a shortage of 300,000 nurses by 2025, according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Meanwhile, Germany could face a shortage of 280,000 to 690,000 nurses by 2049, according to the latest data from the German Federal Statistical Office.

And these countries have struggled to find solutions to address the nursing shortage.

Applying technology to reduce workload

The problem could be partly solved by artificial intelligence (AI) technology like ChatGPT, according to the Journal of Public Health and Emergency .

ChatGPT's instantaneous and personalized feedback capabilities enable the app to support medical administrative tasks and provide educational tools for nursing training.

ChatGPT can reduce language barriers in medical facilities, helping foreign nurses interact and support Japanese-speaking patients and colleagues.

New data analytics methods are helping to reduce workloads and provide tailored care, according to Sompo Holdings, one of Japan's largest insurers and operator of about 280 nursing homes across the country.

Sompo has partnered with Palantir, a leading US business in Big Data analytics, to develop software that combines AI and data analytics related to sleep, diet, treatment and physical activity.

Sompo has installed sensors that measure body movement, breathing, and heart rate to assess sleep status in all hospital beds at a Tokyo facility. The sensors give nurses an additional tool to predict when patients may need assistance during the night.

Data analytics allows nurses to spend 2-3 hours a day communicating with patients, instead of dealing with paperwork or performing unnecessary tests.

Sompo says that by implementing this technology, workload can be reduced by 15% and costs reduced by $60,000/year.

Ken Endo, CEO of Sompo's nursing and elderly care business, said using big data could improve the quality of care and allow nurses to "focus on what only humans can do."

Improving workplace conditions could motivate staff and raise the social status of nurses, he told The Financial Times .

Nurses in Germany - Photo: DEUTSCHLAND.DE

Salary increase, nursing training allowance

The All Japan Confederation of Municipal and Prefectural Workers has proposed ensuring the number of staff is commensurate with the workload, in addition to raising wages at public and government-run medical facilities.

The Council for Promoting Regulatory Reform told Nikkei Asia that Japan should let nurses handle more work themselves, instead of relying on doctors.

The panel recommends sharing of duties between doctors and nurses. Authorities should have specific guidelines on what nurses can do without consulting doctors, such as administering medications.

The council also called for greater use of digital technology to boost productivity.

Meanwhile, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has increased financial support for hospitals to recruit nurses.

The government is also focusing on improving working conditions for nurses. Specifically, it is reviewing the shift system, emphasizing work-life balance, career advancement opportunities, and ensuring sustainable working conditions for nurses.

In Germany, the government has introduced drastic measures such as increasing salaries for nurses and providing subsidies for nursing students.

In March this year, Germany increased salaries for nursing staff working in public health facilities.

The salary increase will be implemented in two stages. In the first stage, salaries will increase by 200 euros. This will be followed by a further increase of 5.5%.

The German government also approved the draft Nursing Studies Strengthening Act, according to schengen.news .

The Act introduces a number of reforms to make nursing more attractive, including simplifying the recognition of foreign qualifications and providing training grants to students. Nursing students will receive a stipend during their training.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tang-luong-ung-dung-cong-nghe-de-het-khat-dieu-duong-20240806103523561.htm