Tackling Our Nation's Shortage of Nurses
We already don't haven enough nurses and the problem is going to get much worse
Posted in History of Nursing
In the United States, Nurses form the largest percentage in the health care profession. The nursing profession classifies people according to their qualifications in terms of the level of training and education. With this in mind, we put emphasis on Registered Nurses (RNs) since they hold Associate degrees or higher level and they form the greatest majority in the nursing fraternity. Since the World War II, hospitals in the U.S have always had to deal with the shortfalls in the National supply and demand due to shortages of certified nurses. Shortage of nurses has contributed to poor quality health care in the U.S; comprehensively the problem is deep-rooted as it can be linked from training to compensation and retention packages of nurses. The total supply of nurses in the market was about 6% which was way below the total demand since there were 110,000 open nursing positions to fill. There was an even larger shortage of nurses in 2008 as there was increased demand in long-term facilities and hospitals against a supply of only 8.1%. Projections show that the shortage of nurses will reach about 260,000 in 2025, figures that almost double shortfalls registered in the U.S in 1960.
When compared to the past, recent shortages are more severe and persistent; nevertheless, the problem will possibly come to an end given that a higher number of graduates combined with higher retention rate of older nurses. Analysts urge policy-makers to develop lasting solutions given that the current solution temporarily covers the shortage of nurses during recession.
Causes of Nursing Shortages
Increased demand of nurses comes as a result of higher population growth rate, fewer enrollments of student nurses in RN to BSN programs, comparatively poor RN earnings when compared with other careers, older nursing fraternity, and increased demand of health care services from the aging population. It makes it very difficult to find solutions to issues around the shortage of nurses since with expansion of the health care industry comes increased job opportunities; on the other hand, the number of retired nurses continues to grow. Almost half of Registered nurses and the greatest majority of this group include nurse managers plan to retire between the years 2011 to 2020. Some of the reasons that cause high turnover and early retired in the nursing profession include higher levels of job dissatisfaction in terms of workload, work schedules, low autonomy and mandatory overtime.
The Effect of Nursing Shortages on Patient Care
A shortage of RNs negatively impacts patient outcomes and this has also led to increased medical errors. There is an interconnection between low nurse to patient ratio and lower patient mortality rates. Patients have a better chance when there is a good nurse-patient and nurse-physician ratio, and support staff in an environment that encourages nurses to have positive working relationships. In the health care industry policies that encourage high turnover and under staffing should be abolished since they are directly linked to higher mortality rates. Evidence shows that lower retention rates leads to increased cases of preventable patient deaths.
Strategies to Address Nursing Supply
There has been a lot of emphasis on recruitment of nurses from Canada, African countries, English-speaking Caribbean, Great Britain, India and Philippines to address the issues around shortage of nurses. Experts look at this as a short-term solutions since there is need to find permanent solutions to address the complexities that brought about the recent shortages to avoid recurrent problems in the long run.
A lot of emphasis should be put on the recruitment, retention of nurses and strengthening capacities in nursing schools to address issues around nursing shortages. A strategic move to increase financial aid or scholarship to students, creating awareness among underrepresented and nontraditional groups such as minorities and men, and increased supply of faculty and funding to education facilities can help tackle the problem. Two U.S nursing schools namely, baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs due to lack of enough clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, faculties and budgetary constrains had to decline 75,587 applications from qualified participants in 2011 alone, this shows there is need to increase nursing faculty training programs and institutions to accommodate more qualified applicants. Additionally, growth and development of the current nursing workforce, offering incentives to retired nurses, better workplace conditions, and professional development of nurses can improve the retention rate.
The Nurse Reinvestment Act 2002, Reinvestment Act 2009 and latest federal efforts centered mainly on recruitment, retention strategies, career development initiatives and educational funding. In support, some states have passed legislation s to control minimum staffing ratios, and practices such as mandatory overtime, however, to some extent these laws present challenges as they have a cost effect that directly impacts on improving patient care. Some states have budgetary allocations towards nursing educational programs to increase capacity and faculties in nursing schools.
The 2010 IOM/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report on “The Future of Nursing” highlighted some changes to meet the ever-growing demand healthcare in the 21st century. The proposal touched on improving nursing programs to accommodate interest, to fund of applicants to the degree level, to encourage nursing practices that exploit full potential in terms of education and training, and vouch for nurses to become key participants in healthcare reform discussions. Additionally, improving resources and faculty supply would help prepare nurses to take up bigger responsibilities and improve their decision-making skills just like other healthcare professionals. To encourage and improve moral, the report drew attention to the invaluable services offered by nurses given that they are always on the front line when it comes to health care service provision. The report also highlight structural, Cultural and legal as the critical changes that would help sustain the nursing supply in the future.
Nurses shoulder bigger responsibilities when it comes to offering quality provision of primary and preventive care in accordance with The Patient Protection and Affordable care Act (ACA). A variety of ACA endorsed programs has seen increased demand on the health work force, and presents various growth and development opportunities. Therefore, nurses need to upscale some essential skills by advancing their education to work in the undeserved communities like funding and investment for advanced nursing education, loan repayment and scholarships. With advent of new hospital billing and coding, home or community-based care programs present opportunities for RNs since there is increased demand for case managers, home health providers and qualified professions to offer traditional care. Do you part in ending the nursing shortage. Get a nursing degree from Lewis online and start helping others today
When compared to the past, recent shortages are more severe and persistent; nevertheless, the problem will possibly come to an end given that a higher number of graduates combined with higher retention rate of older nurses. Analysts urge policy-makers to develop lasting solutions given that the current solution temporarily covers the shortage of nurses during recession.
Causes of Nursing Shortages
Increased demand of nurses comes as a result of higher population growth rate, fewer enrollments of student nurses in RN to BSN programs, comparatively poor RN earnings when compared with other careers, older nursing fraternity, and increased demand of health care services from the aging population. It makes it very difficult to find solutions to issues around the shortage of nurses since with expansion of the health care industry comes increased job opportunities; on the other hand, the number of retired nurses continues to grow. Almost half of Registered nurses and the greatest majority of this group include nurse managers plan to retire between the years 2011 to 2020. Some of the reasons that cause high turnover and early retired in the nursing profession include higher levels of job dissatisfaction in terms of workload, work schedules, low autonomy and mandatory overtime.
The Effect of Nursing Shortages on Patient Care
A shortage of RNs negatively impacts patient outcomes and this has also led to increased medical errors. There is an interconnection between low nurse to patient ratio and lower patient mortality rates. Patients have a better chance when there is a good nurse-patient and nurse-physician ratio, and support staff in an environment that encourages nurses to have positive working relationships. In the health care industry policies that encourage high turnover and under staffing should be abolished since they are directly linked to higher mortality rates. Evidence shows that lower retention rates leads to increased cases of preventable patient deaths.
Strategies to Address Nursing Supply
There has been a lot of emphasis on recruitment of nurses from Canada, African countries, English-speaking Caribbean, Great Britain, India and Philippines to address the issues around shortage of nurses. Experts look at this as a short-term solutions since there is need to find permanent solutions to address the complexities that brought about the recent shortages to avoid recurrent problems in the long run.
A lot of emphasis should be put on the recruitment, retention of nurses and strengthening capacities in nursing schools to address issues around nursing shortages. A strategic move to increase financial aid or scholarship to students, creating awareness among underrepresented and nontraditional groups such as minorities and men, and increased supply of faculty and funding to education facilities can help tackle the problem. Two U.S nursing schools namely, baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs due to lack of enough clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, faculties and budgetary constrains had to decline 75,587 applications from qualified participants in 2011 alone, this shows there is need to increase nursing faculty training programs and institutions to accommodate more qualified applicants. Additionally, growth and development of the current nursing workforce, offering incentives to retired nurses, better workplace conditions, and professional development of nurses can improve the retention rate.
The Nurse Reinvestment Act 2002, Reinvestment Act 2009 and latest federal efforts centered mainly on recruitment, retention strategies, career development initiatives and educational funding. In support, some states have passed legislation s to control minimum staffing ratios, and practices such as mandatory overtime, however, to some extent these laws present challenges as they have a cost effect that directly impacts on improving patient care. Some states have budgetary allocations towards nursing educational programs to increase capacity and faculties in nursing schools.
The 2010 IOM/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report on “The Future of Nursing” highlighted some changes to meet the ever-growing demand healthcare in the 21st century. The proposal touched on improving nursing programs to accommodate interest, to fund of applicants to the degree level, to encourage nursing practices that exploit full potential in terms of education and training, and vouch for nurses to become key participants in healthcare reform discussions. Additionally, improving resources and faculty supply would help prepare nurses to take up bigger responsibilities and improve their decision-making skills just like other healthcare professionals. To encourage and improve moral, the report drew attention to the invaluable services offered by nurses given that they are always on the front line when it comes to health care service provision. The report also highlight structural, Cultural and legal as the critical changes that would help sustain the nursing supply in the future.
Nurses shoulder bigger responsibilities when it comes to offering quality provision of primary and preventive care in accordance with The Patient Protection and Affordable care Act (ACA). A variety of ACA endorsed programs has seen increased demand on the health work force, and presents various growth and development opportunities. Therefore, nurses need to upscale some essential skills by advancing their education to work in the undeserved communities like funding and investment for advanced nursing education, loan repayment and scholarships. With advent of new hospital billing and coding, home or community-based care programs present opportunities for RNs since there is increased demand for case managers, home health providers and qualified professions to offer traditional care. Do you part in ending the nursing shortage. Get a nursing degree from Lewis online and start helping others today