2026 Critical Care Congress Skip to main content
2026 Critical Care Congress Main banner
Final Program


Advance Program
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Session Icons
Thought Leader Session
Thought Leader Session
Guidelines Session
Guidelines Session
Aging Adult Track
Aging Adult Track
Additional Registration Fee
Additional Registration Fee

Epidemiology Outcomes
Concurrent

Too Few Nurses . . . Too Many Deaths?

Monday, March 23, 2026
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM Central Time
Location: Skyline Ballroom, W375D

    Concurrent Session Moderator(s)

  • Richard Speicher, M.D.

    UH Rainbow Babies and Children's/Case Western Reserve School of Medicine

    Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose.

Multiple factors have led to changes in the ICU workforce with widespread shortages of nurses, respiratory therapists, and other staff, leading to unfavorable patient-staff ratios, increased transfer of patients, and possibly lower quality of care. This session will discuss the factors that have led to the workforce shortage, effects on patient outcomes, staff burnout, and what the future of the workforce may look like.

Learning Objectives:

  • Recognize the factors that have led to workforce shortages
  • Examine the effects of a reduced workforce on patient outcomes and staff burnout
  • Predict aspects of the future workforce

Presentations:

  • 3:20 PM - 3:35 PM Central Time
    Where Did All the Nurses Go?

    Marcia K. Johansson, ACNP, DNP, ACNP-BC – University of Florida

  • 3:35 PM - 3:50 PM Central Time
    Why Does Having Fewer Nurses Lead to Worse Outcomes?

    Amita Avadhani, PhD, DNP, ACNP, CCR (she/her/hers) – Temple University

  • 3:50 PM - 4:05 PM Central Time
    Where Do We Go From Here?

    Justine Fortkiewicz (she/her/hers)