Essay on The Global Nursing Shortage

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

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 US healthcare system is no stranger to nursing shortages. It is a recurring problem we have been faced with for the past seven decades. However, what we will be faced with between now and 2025 is a predicament of far greater proportion than ever encountered before. “Considering the impact this prolonged shortage will have on the USA health care system, nursing and other health-related organizations have even brought their concerns to lawmakers in the central government for immediate consideration” (Janiszewski Goodin 335). This quote is from 2003 and sadly, the state of today’s nursing shortage is still blatantly apparent. Not necessarily because nothing was done back in 2003 to fix it, but

The nursing shortage has been influenced by the aging workforce, shortage of nursing faculty, professional alternatives, poor working conditions and poor nursing image. By 2020, there will be an increase in demand for registered nurses (RNs) due to the increase need for healthcare services to meet the needs of the baby boom generation (Keenan & Kennedy, 2003). It is estimated that the nursing shortage will range from 400,000 to 808,000 full-time equivalents (FTE) RNs. The nursing shortage has impacted the intensive care units (ICU), medical surgical units and operating rooms (Keenan & Kennedy).

There are numerous issues that cause the nursing shortage of today. “Baby Boomer” nurses are aging, retiring or coming to the end of their careers which will cause a rift. Many nurses are choosing to leave the nursing profession for other careers because of job dissatisfaction or

With over 2 million jobs, registered nurses represent the largest health care occupation (Windle, 2008, p. 209). Although nurses are the biggest health care occupation, there continues to be a shortage in the United States. The shortage has worsened because of rising healthcare costs and a focus on cost containment, which has negatively impacted nurse work environments (Keeler and Cramer, 2007, p. 350). With demand for healthcare expecting to continue to increase and financial pressures becoming more burdensome, these shortages will likely become even more critical in coming years if not adequately addressed (Love et al., 2006, p. 558). The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 1.2 million nurses will be required to fill new and vacated nursing positions by the end of 2014 (Windle, 2008, p. 209).

The shortage of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States has been a cyclical topic dating back to the 1960s. Only recently have employers in certain regions of the nation stated a decline in the demand for RNs. Consequently, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2014) report on 2012-2013 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing, American nursing schools denied admission to 79,659 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2012. The reported decrease in job availability and rejected admissions has left many individuals to question if the nursing shortage still exists. On the other hand, some

Another promising addition to cure the shortage, is that many students who fail to get an offer after completing medical school, are left empty handed; about 8800 students in 2016. Those usually do three things, reapply, go to Pharmacy school, or go back to school to become NPs or PAs. This is really exciting, as these nursing students will be a

The national nursing shortage is predicted to continue to rise to levels that have not been seen since the 1960’s (Fasoli, 2010). Managers must create an environment that is conducive to employees. The leader needs to promote organizational commitment and retain employees by promoting a positive culture on the unit. Nurses want an environment where they can provide high-quality care to patients and leaders must help facilitate and maintain this environment. Employees also want to feel like their opinions matter to the manager, and they have a say in the future of the unit. Employees do not want to feel like they are not important, or their voices are not being heard.

An aging faculty, administrative constraints, fierce job competitiveness for prime clinical sites among faculty, and non-competitive wages limit nursing schools across the country from accepting all nurse applicants. In addition, new qualified and experienced nurses are not looking to shift or begin their careers in education because the pay is simply not there to support it. “According to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurse’s report on 2014-2015 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing, U.S. nursing schools turned away 68,938 qualified applicants from baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs in 2014 due to an insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, classroom space, clinical preceptors, and budget constraints. Almost two thirds of the nursing schools responding to the survey pointed to faculty shortages as a reason for not accepting all qualified applicants into baccalaureate programs” (Rosseter). Is this where the bottleneck is happening? The National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice (NACNEP), issued a report addressing the one factor that limits the nation’s ability to produce more nurses: “the shortage of nurse faculty to educate those who desire to enter the nursing profession”. With retiring educators who belong to the baby boomer’s generation, the struggle for school administrators to find new and qualified faculty will dramatically intensifies over the next ten years. Several strategies for countering a faculty shortage have been brought forward but as Dr. Ada Sue Hinshaw, PhD, explains, this situation will be one of the most challenging concerns of the next decade. “Each nursing program is confronted with the issue of a shortage of nursing faculty and each must treat

prelicensure applicants are turned down from school the less access current nurses will have to

There are several causes for nursing shortages. Shortages are caused by sudden population growth resulting in a growing need for health care services. There are also, a declining amount of new students in nursing. According to American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), nursing schools in the United States turned away almost 80,000 applicants in 2012 due to insufficient number of faculty, clinical sites, and classroom space. AACN (2014) Baby boomers are getting older. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), over a 10 year span, the average age of employed Registered Nurses has increased from 42.7 years in 2000 to 44.6

It is likely that most people have heard about the nursing shortage for years now, and perhaps they believe it’s been fixed. However, the nursing profession is experiencing a reoccurring deficiency. According to Brian Hansen, (2002), there was a nation wide shortage in 2001 of 126,000 full-time registered nurses, but the shortage will surge to 808,000 by 2020 if something isn't done. This pattern is a persisting cycle of high vacancies followed by layoffs and a high over supply of registered nurses. Various factors contribute to the lack of nurses within the health care facilities, but today’s shortages are a little different. Many feel that this scarcity is severe and long-drawn-out. The four major issues contributing to

Eras of high vacancy rates for RNs in hospitals have come and gone, but the current shortage is different. According to the 2002 estimation by the workforce commission of the American Hospital Association, nursing shortages has "reflected vital changes in general public demographics, vocation expectations, work attitudes and worker dissatisfaction." Undoubtedly, the current situation may well continue over several decades. In addition, a federal government analyst predicts that hospital-nursing vacancies will reach 29 percent by 2020, yet the number of nurses is presumed to grow by only 6 percent by 2020, while demands for nursing care is expected to grow by 40 percent. In translation, less nurses more nursing care needs for sick patients.

Some believe it is because of retirement. The Toronto Star reported in 2001 that 14,000 of their 81,000 nurses were due to retire by 2004 (Honor Society of Nursing, 2001). The huge shortage of nurses has had an impact on patient care (Rosseter, 2011). They would need more graduating nurses to fill those open positions. There are several hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home health agencies with multiple jobs open due to the shortage of nurses (Honor Society of Nursing, 2001). Experts also believe that nurses are enrolling into school at an older age averaging at 31 year age opposed to 18 years of age (Honor Society of Nursing, 2001). Some jobs are even offering a sign-on bonus so they can fill these open positions. To new graduating nurse’s this can be a good incentive since the medical field is competitive.