Nursing Shortage: It is increasingly
apparent that there is a shortage of registered nurses in the United States
hospitals and healthcare facilities. The baby boomers are aging and needing
more health care as the nursing shortage increases. Half the RN workforce
in the U.S., now 2.1 million, will reach retirement age in the next 15 years
(Source:WebRN). U.S. nursing school enrollment dropped by 20.9 percent from
1995-1999 (Source: Harvard Nursing Research Institute). The U.S. will need
1,754,000 nurses by 2020, but only 635,000 will be available, based on current
trends (Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Jobs for RNs
will grow 26 percent between 2000 and 2010 - faster than the average for
other occupations (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Challenges: The question is how can facilities recruit and retain RNs at a time when the numbers are decreasing? The many causes of the nursing shortage range from inadequate nurse-to-patient ratio; aging workforce; lack of respect; forced overtime; stressed/ burned out nurses; unattractive-ness of nursing as a career choice; and low nursing school enrollment. Vacant positions place pressure upon the remaining staff possibly increasing stress and the possibility of errors.
Hospital administrators must implement a more acceptable approach to improve patient care and nurses' job satisfaction. Work related problems cited most frequently by nurses as dissatisfiers are understaffing and floating from one unit to another less familiar unit.
There is the ever-existing issue of balancing the budget by cutting the labor force including the nursing staff. Hospitals usually provide a certain percentage of indigent care to the uninsured or underinsured. This cost is passed on to the paying clients as is reflected in increase in cost of care. The overall quality of care to clients is compromised.
Opportunities: The nursing shortage does provide some positive opportunities. The federal government is proposing subsidies to nursing education programs as well as scholarships for nursing students. Healthcare facilities are offering sign on bonuses along with increasing pay scales. Work schedules are providing more options for nurses. This positive side of nursing is a powerful marketing tool.
The current shortage had made both people in government and healthcare institutions alike aware of the seriousness of the problem. The current climate of potential medical emergencies happening to a larger group of people has alarmed legislators. The idea of healthcare facilities not being able to handle this additional workload has alerted Congress to address this problem with a sense of urgency. This has resulted in a plethora of opportunities and lucrative career choices for people who are considering nursing as a career of choice in the United States. Moreover, Congress has recently passed the Nurse Reinvestment Act with a strong bipartisan support and National Nursing Organizations are applauding the resulting legislation.
"We are delighted that the Nurse Reinvestment Act has been approved," said Pamela Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, based in Washington D.C. She added, "We are particularly pleased that the provisions in the act suggest Congress appreciates that the nursing shortage is a multifaceted problem".
"The Nurse Reinvestment Act will go a long way toward attracting more people into nursing and should help sidestep a looming shortage that is fast reaching crisis proportions," said Barbara Blakeney, President of the American Nurses Association in Washington, D.C. " The legislation begins to put serious funding into nursing. It also enhances our ability to support experienced nurses seeking to go on to advanced degrees through scholarships and loan forgiveness."
From all of this, it is obvious that a greater impetus has been given to addressing the nursing shortage. With the country facing not only a shortfall of registered nurses and with predictions of a more severe shortage as baby boomer RNs retire, the demand for qualified nurses is surely going to escalate. Additionally, since "Diversity Mismatch" has been a problem in the nursing workforce, with the vast majority of nurses being white women, thereby not truly reflecting the diversity of this nation. Men have not been attracted to the nursing profession and this gives a tremendous opportunity for minorities to pursue nursing as a lucrative and rewarding career choice for years to come.
Hospitals and healthcare facilities must solve the problem by looking for other creative solutions. The standard practice of recruiting nurses from within our borders alone is not sufficient to meet the escalating demand. Another viable solution to staff healthcare facilities is to recruit qualified, stable, loyal and eager to relocate RNs from outside our borders. Hence, to supplement the recruitment efforts to cover the shortage healthcare facilities should consider international nurses.
Challenges: The question is how can facilities recruit and retain RNs at a time when the numbers are decreasing? The many causes of the nursing shortage range from inadequate nurse-to-patient ratio; aging workforce; lack of respect; forced overtime; stressed/ burned out nurses; unattractive-ness of nursing as a career choice; and low nursing school enrollment. Vacant positions place pressure upon the remaining staff possibly increasing stress and the possibility of errors.
Hospital administrators must implement a more acceptable approach to improve patient care and nurses' job satisfaction. Work related problems cited most frequently by nurses as dissatisfiers are understaffing and floating from one unit to another less familiar unit.
There is the ever-existing issue of balancing the budget by cutting the labor force including the nursing staff. Hospitals usually provide a certain percentage of indigent care to the uninsured or underinsured. This cost is passed on to the paying clients as is reflected in increase in cost of care. The overall quality of care to clients is compromised.
Opportunities: The nursing shortage does provide some positive opportunities. The federal government is proposing subsidies to nursing education programs as well as scholarships for nursing students. Healthcare facilities are offering sign on bonuses along with increasing pay scales. Work schedules are providing more options for nurses. This positive side of nursing is a powerful marketing tool.
The current shortage had made both people in government and healthcare institutions alike aware of the seriousness of the problem. The current climate of potential medical emergencies happening to a larger group of people has alarmed legislators. The idea of healthcare facilities not being able to handle this additional workload has alerted Congress to address this problem with a sense of urgency. This has resulted in a plethora of opportunities and lucrative career choices for people who are considering nursing as a career of choice in the United States. Moreover, Congress has recently passed the Nurse Reinvestment Act with a strong bipartisan support and National Nursing Organizations are applauding the resulting legislation.
"We are delighted that the Nurse Reinvestment Act has been approved," said Pamela Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, based in Washington D.C. She added, "We are particularly pleased that the provisions in the act suggest Congress appreciates that the nursing shortage is a multifaceted problem".
"The Nurse Reinvestment Act will go a long way toward attracting more people into nursing and should help sidestep a looming shortage that is fast reaching crisis proportions," said Barbara Blakeney, President of the American Nurses Association in Washington, D.C. " The legislation begins to put serious funding into nursing. It also enhances our ability to support experienced nurses seeking to go on to advanced degrees through scholarships and loan forgiveness."
From all of this, it is obvious that a greater impetus has been given to addressing the nursing shortage. With the country facing not only a shortfall of registered nurses and with predictions of a more severe shortage as baby boomer RNs retire, the demand for qualified nurses is surely going to escalate. Additionally, since "Diversity Mismatch" has been a problem in the nursing workforce, with the vast majority of nurses being white women, thereby not truly reflecting the diversity of this nation. Men have not been attracted to the nursing profession and this gives a tremendous opportunity for minorities to pursue nursing as a lucrative and rewarding career choice for years to come.
Hospitals and healthcare facilities must solve the problem by looking for other creative solutions. The standard practice of recruiting nurses from within our borders alone is not sufficient to meet the escalating demand. Another viable solution to staff healthcare facilities is to recruit qualified, stable, loyal and eager to relocate RNs from outside our borders. Hence, to supplement the recruitment efforts to cover the shortage healthcare facilities should consider international nurses.
For facilities considering hiring international nurses and need more information please contact Madison Healthcare, 3875 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1202, Los Angeles, CA 90010 or call 877-562-7562 (toll free).
