Nursing Shortage Impact on Healthcare

Current literature continues to reiterate the indicators of a major shortage of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States. The total RN population has been increasing since 1980, which means that we have more RNs in this country than ever before (Nursing Shortage). Even though the RN population is increasing, it is growing at a much slower rate then when compared to the rate of growth of the U.S. population (Nursing Shortage). We are seeing less skilled nurses “at a time of an increasingly aging population with complex care

There is a shortage of all health care professions throughout the United States. One shortage in particular that society should be very concerned about is the shortage of Registered Nurses. Registered Nurses make up the single largest healthcare profession in the United States. A registered nurse is a vital healthcare professional that has earned a two or four year degree and has the upper-most responsibility in providing direct patient care and staff management in a hospital or other treatment facilities (Registered Nurse (RN) Degree and Career Overview., 2009). This shortage issue is imperative because RN's affect everyone sometime in their lifetime. Nurses serve groups, families and individuals to foster

Registered nurses are an integral part of the healthcare system, and make up the largest number of healthcare professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015) “The employment rate for registered nurses is expected to grow by 16% between 2014 and 2024”. This is more than double the average rate of growth for a profession. The rapid growth rate can be attributed in part to better management of chronic diseases and the baby boomer generation. The growth in the nursing profession is paramount, however the demographics of the nursing population does not mirror the demographics of the population served.

The national shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs) has helped generate formidable interest in the nursing profession among people entering the workforce and those pursuing a career change. According to a report issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service in 2002, the national population is continuing to grow and age and medical services continue to advance, so the need for nurses will continue to increase. They report from 2000 to 2020 the predicted shortage of nurses is expected to grow to 29 percent, compared to a 6 percent shortage in 2000. With the projected supply, demand, and shortage of registered nurses and nursing salaries ever-increasing, the nursing profession can offer countless opportunities. But first one must

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS) estimates the need for 439,300 registered nurses (RN) from 2014 to 2024, equating to a 16% increase in employment opportunities (USBLS, 2015). Approximately 30% of new RNs leave their first jobs with less than a year of hire and 525,000 nurses are expected to retire from 2012 to 2022- a demand totaled to around 1 million jobs by 2022. This increase is attributed to retiring baby boomers, turnovers, healthcare reform, and the increasing aging population (Kiel, 2012; USBLS, 2013). Control over the retirement of baby boomers is unrealistic, however, nursing turnover can be regulated.

The United States healthcare industry faces many challenges everyday, such as the rising cost of care, medical errors, access and quality problems etc. Within the next few years, the United States will experience a shortage of Register Nurses (RNs). “Registered Nurses are considered one of the largest health professions in the health care industry. The Nurses duty is to provide direct patient care and can be done in a hospital, public health facility, nursing home and many other different settings. Other services included are patient education on disease prevention, administering treatments and promoting a healthy lifestyle.” ("The Future of the Nursing Workforce: National- and State- Level Projections 2012-2025”) The shortage will occur due to Baby Boomers aging and the demand for health care will dramatically rise. With the baby boomers aging, Registered Nurses are at the top of the list for demand in health care. Unfortunately the supply and demand does not meet. “According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Projections 2012-2022 released in December 2013, RNs will increase of about 526,800 within that time frame but will still have job openings of 1.05 million by 2020)”("Nursing Shortage") Indicating that there is no growth between 2012- 2022. There are multiple factors to this shortage and one of them is that nursing schools across the nation are struggling to increase the capacity of students to meet the rising demand. Considering the fact

This paper will examine the shortage of nurses and the impact on the nurse’s quality

In order to provide lasting solutions to the nursing shortage, we should determine whether actively recruiting mature new nurses is appropriate. Bedside nursing is an intellectually and physically demanding profession. The burnout rates and first year attrition are disturbingly high. A three year study of over three thousand American NGNs found that 37 percent intend to leave their jobs after one year (Kovner et al., 2007). Another review found that while there are many market variables, the average American NGN costs hospitals over $82,000. Thirty percent of these leave in the first year and 57 percent in the second (Twibell et al., 2012). Given the high barriers to entry, the statistics are surprising. Before we continue to invest in recruiting mature nursing students, we should determine if they are likely to persevere in practice.

Nursing retention is a major issue within the healthcare organization and has been acknowledged internationally. With nurses comprising the largest healthcare professional group, hospital organizations depend on a viable nursing workforce to provide high quality care. According to World Health Organization statistics (2006), there is a shortage of 4.3 million healthcare workers including doctors, midwives, nurses and ancillary staff worldwide (Twigg & McCullough, 2014). This number is expected to increase by 20 percent in the next two decades with projected shortages of 285,000 nurses by 2020 and 500,000 nurses by 2025 (Spence Laschinger et al., 2009; Twigg & McCullough, 2014). As a result of the

A large number of hospitals across the country will no longer hire a RN with only an associate’s degree, but rather require them to hold a bachelors degree. This trend is eliminating many people from attending community college to attend nursing school. Many of these popele are unable to afford the cost of a four year degree from a university. This fact has kept many qualifited and interested candidates from entering the nursing industry. At the University level for baherlor degree programa, there is a shortage of nursing school faculty. This shortage is limiting the number of nursing students that are accepted into the nursing school. According to AACN’s report on 2012-2013 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing, nearly 80,000 qualified students were turned away from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2012 due to insufficient staffing requirements. Almost two-thirds of the nursing schools responding to the AACN’s survey blamed to faculty shortages as a reason for not accepting all qualified applicants into their programs (Truth about

In recent years, nursing schools have been overflowing with students seeking nursing licenses. Like the baby boomers age, the United States is facing a tremendous surplus of licensed nurses. With much of these “boomers” still holding many positions, new graduates are being persuaded to pursue further training beyond a diploma or associate’s degree. They are being convinced to seek more advanced degrees in nursing or even finding a new field of study. With many registered nurses coming out of retirement, graduates are having a difficult time finding a job. As of now, hospitals are seeing an excess amount of nurses. However, this overflow of care givers is only temporary because of the number of nurses becoming discouraged, the country’s economic state, and the limited amount of space offered in nursing schools.

The nursing shortage is no longer a projected problem in the healthcare industry in the United States, this problem is present and is not phasing out anytime soon. Addressing this challenge would improve job satisfaction, reduce burnout in the profession and ultimately improve retention.

The nursing profession will continue to experience a workforce shortage estimated at a vacancy between 300,000 - 500,000 RNs by 2025 (UHC/AACN, 2009). This shortage is mostly due to the large population of baby boomer nurses approaching retirement, currently the largest demographic of nurses are those between the ages of 50 and 60 (UHC/AACN, 2009), as well as the increasing rates of nurse turnover. Of specific concern on this front is that many new graduate nurses (NGNs) are not only leaving jobs within the first 1-2 years but may leave the profession altogether (Griffin, 2005). At a rate of 30% the

According to Paller (2012), the nursing shortage in different countries for example the United States tends not to be the only growing problem, but has also become a complex one. Nursing shortage and nurse's turnover has become the worsening predicament in the health care industry in the United

Modern nursing is a rewarding, but challenging, career choice. The modern nurse's role is not limited only to assist the doctor in procedures, however. Instead, the contemporary nursing professional takes on a partnership role with both the doctor and patient as advocate caregiver, teacher, researcher, counselor, and case manager. The caregiver role includes those activities that assist the client physically, mentally, and emotionally, while still preserving the client's dignity. In order for a nurse to be an effective caregiver, the patient must be treated in a holistic manner. Within the subject of nursing, there are often times in which different aspects of the practice must be analyzed by using primary research from other scholars. Nursing scholarship is vital to the profession, as we have seen, in order for the modern nurse to remain current with scholarship and practice. At the very core of this paradigm, though, is the manner in which the blend of art and science in nursing will be expressed to others, to the next generation, and through pedagogical theory (Alligood & Tomey, 2002). To do this, however, requires a new approach to the paradigm of nursing leadership strategic thinking, planning and action and above all appropriate integration of a more holistic and multidisciplinary approach to professional nursing.