abstract
- As the cracks in our stretched and overburdened healthcare system continue to widen, the downstream pressures on nurses, nurse practitioners (NPs) and other healthcare providers continue to rise. It is stressful and painful for nurses to witness how the weaknesses in our system impact the lives of patients, families and communities. Nurses are there amid the anger, uncertainty, weariness and fear - providing care around the clock. We know that the working conditions are challenging, to say the least, and the needs of the population are growing at the same time that the workforce is shrinking. The picture I am painting is one that is all too familiar - one that we hear about daily.