Reports regarding the shortage of nurses in the workforce have brought a serious matter to the forefront in the United States. This issue has drawn noticeable media attention as well as public attention because the critical shortage affects the entire population. Registered nurses (RNs) are the largest group of healthcare providers (United States General Accounting Office, 2001). In a report from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) (2008), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) predicts that by the year 2020 in order to meet the national need, one million new RNs will be needed in the United States healthcare system. A shortage of registered nurses in the workforce will mean less quality care provided, less access to care, and even greater demand for services. The AACN (2007) addresses numerous factors contributing to the nursing shortage: nursing schools not enrolling enough students to meet projected demands for nurses over the next ten years, limited faculty to teach in nursing programs preventing increased enrollment, fewer nurses entering the profession causing the average age of registered nurses to rise, the aging population needing more care, nurses leaving the profession due to job burnout or dissatisfaction, and high nurse turnover and vacancy rate.
Has the nursing shortage affected your unit or hospital in a way that has compromised patient care? How have you seen this issue addressed? Please share your thoughts.
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In a November 30 to December 2, 2007 Gallup Poll Survey, 83% of respondents said that nurses had “very high” or “high” honest and ethical standards (Gallup, 2007).
A BLOG FOR PROFESSIONAL NURSES AND CONCERNED CITIZENS TO DISCUSS & SHARE IDEAS
About Me
- rnshortage
- I am currently a graduate student at the University of Texas at Arlington working toward my MSN. My nursing background is in intensive care. I enjoy precepting new nurses and sharing my love for nursing with them.
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Check out my related website at: http://sites.google.com/site/ashleyhodo
Most Honest Profession
In a November 30 to December 2, 2007 Gallup Poll Survey, 83% of respondents said that nurses had “very high” or “high” honest and ethical standards (Gallup, 2007).
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Disclaimer
This blog is for informational use only and was established in partial fulfillment of N5308.
References
- American Nurses Association. (2008). ANCC Magnet Designation. Retrieved November 8, 2008 from http://www.nursingworld.org
- Enrollment growth slows at U.S. nursing colleges and universities in 2007. (2008, January/February). Syllabus: The newsletter of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 34(1), 1-2.
- Gallup. (2007). Honesty/ethics in professions. Retrieved March 21, 2008, from http://www.gallup.com/poll/1654/Honesty-Ethics-Professions.aspx.
- Green, A., Wick, K. L., Willmann, J., Fowler, C., Douglas, W., & Jordan, C. (2004). Addressing the Texas nursing shortage: A legislative approach to bolstering the nursing education pipeline [Electronic version]. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 5(1), 41-48.
- Nelson, J. (2006). S.B. 138: Relating to promoting the retention and graduation of students enrolled in professional nursing programs. Retrieved February 18, 2008 from http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=SB138
- Texas Legislature Online. (2007). Bill Lookup. Retrieved February 18, 2008 from http://ww.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/BillNumber.aspx
- United States Department of Health & Human Services: Health Resources & Services Administration. (2007). Projected number of and demand for licensed registered nurses, 2000-2020. Retrieved March 20, 2008 from http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/nursing/.
- United States General Accounting Office. (2001). Report to the chairman, subcommittee on health; committee on ways and means, House of Representatives. Nursing workforce – emerging nurse shortage due to multiple factors. Retrieved March 20, 2008, from http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d01944.pdf
15 comments:
Ash,
This looks great. Love the fading nurses. Love the music, very serene. As far as the nursing shortage, I have actual haven't had any direct effect on my unit. The issue has been finding experienced nurses with the right qualifications. I have hired many new grads and am "growing my own". I am concerned of what the future may hold if the number of nurses retiring or leaving the profession is greater than the number entering. I think the shortage of nursing instructors may effect the nursing shortage. I think having more nursing instructors thus allowing for higher enrollment might help. What do you think? Mentoring will be key to the transition of new nurses :) (had to get a plug in for my mentoring work).
What a beautiful site, very well put together. The use of color, music and texture is wonderful! I am concerned about the shortage, not in so much as numbers but in the quality of current graduates. There seems to be this need to hurry them through. The professionalism seems to be lost. The newer generation, are techically saavy, however there problem-solving abilities, and compassion just are not at the level of the graduates that have come through in the twenty some of years I have been at this. I think yes address the shortage, but produce a quality product by paying and reating quality instructors and mentors.
Great site...topic, design, and music. Although, I am not currently working in a hospital setting, our agency realizes the many benefits of hiring RNs and prefers hiring RNs whenever possible. I believe that we need to look at increasing nursing instructors with possible higher wages and other benefit incentives. Mentoring current nurses must be of highest priority when addressing the nursing shortage.
Hi there,
The music is a great background and enhances the pondering of the critical situation we are faced with in nursing.
In a recent conversation with Mother I learned that she is very concerned over the local hospital in her area. They seem to be struggling and she said they are having difficulty finding both nurses and physicians.
Unfortunately I think we will see time worsen before better. However, there is also hope. I believe that nursing educators and admisistrators as well as community leaders are coming together to network seeking strategies to not considered in the past and perhaps through technology will employ new opportuntiies for teaching. Simulation in virtual environments such as Second Life come to mind.
Interesting topic. Look forward to the continued dialogue.
JD
The nursing shortage seems like a myth when I see how nurses are treated in certain areas in the hospital. Nurseing as a profession at times is not attractive for the right reasons, many enter our profession for the wrong reasons and then realize that it is not as esy as it looks. We as nurses are caring individuals that share a part of our selves every day and impact lives in ways we at time don't realize. The nursing shortage is real and we must up hold good standards for ourselves and represent a positive image that attracts others to our profession.
I believe the nursing shortage is a big problem that is going to struggle to overcome. There is a certain type of domino effect, because as the shortage creates frustrated employed nurses, it also tends to discourage students from choosing nursing.
I have witnessed the nursing shortage and the negative effects at my facility. In actuality, the working conditions were a primary motivation for me to further my education. Though we had GNs, they were rushed through the orientation process and thrown to the wolves. As a result, more experienced nurses were put in a position to not only care for our own patients, but keep a watchful eye on their patients as well. As a result of the shortage, I feel that my facility has opted to hire warm bodies while overlooking competencies and knowledge. The nursing shortage is a problem that is only going to get worse as more nurses leave the profession.
Ash,
I really like your blog site. It has a nice feel to it overall. The nursing shortage I feel has affected nurse satisfaction as well as patient care. I am frequently floated to other areas outside my speciality at the hospital I work for which really makes me dissatisfied with the overall feel for the hospital. I understand there is a shortage, but I don't feel that I should have to pay the price for it. I do believe in working as a team towards quality patient care, but at the same time, I think there needs to be boundaries in place to rotate floating when necessary which could increase employee satisfaction. Just some thoughts.
Thanks,
Jen W.
Great site Ash! Love the underlying message in the pic. Luckily, we have not been affected by the nursing shortage on my unit. I agree with Kathi in that we should not try to shovel through a bunch of students in nursing school that are not quality nurses. I don't know about the rest of you, but I would much rather have a "quality" nurse that maybe only saw you a couple times during the day then one that came in every hour but had no clue what they were doing.
Yes, I have seen the shortage of nurses affect patient care. A larger patient load led to exhausted, irritated and rushed nurses. It made me think about how I would feel if a loved one of mine was assigned to a nurse that was unsafely overloaded with patients.
nThe nursing shortage frightens me because,the overworked and rushed nurses just do the basic work to get things done without really being in the moment with the patient.
You have a great site and thought provoking topic.Way to go!
Linly
I agree with several of the posted comments. As a charge RN, I find myself having to neglect my patient as I problem solve for newer nurses. This is not their fault. They need experienced nurses to support and nurture them. Too often, they are "thrown to the wolves" due to inadequate orientation programs or overloaded preceptors. It also seems like senior management teams are more interested in bodies vs qualified personnel. Management seems to push the limit on safety and safe staffing ratios. They dont appreciate when experienced RNs create the paper trail relating to safety risks. I love being a clinical RN, but I nearly left the profession because I was tired of putting my patients and my license a risk every time I clocked in. I now work on the aeromedical side. There is less pay and worse benefits, but the RN to patient ratio is worth it.
Finally, we need to address the generation gap. As RNs we need to stop eating our young. New GNs/RNs need support!!!!. Yes, we are overworked and essentially professionally abused, but if we run off the new generation....how is it going to get any better. We play a part in this scenario.
.
I agree,the nursing shortage is a huge concern. With the majority of the working nursing population consisting of the baby boomer era, soon they will be retiring, taking the bulk of our staff. In efforts to keep this era working a little bit longer, my institution is offering an over 50 program. Offering benefits at the full-time rate for half time employees that are over 50. This seems to be a huge satisfier and is keeping them in the hospitals a little bit longer.
To address the recruitment, we have increased wages to the top of the market in addition to offering incentives for extra hours worked (in addition to overtime). These are attracting the younger, money driven populations.
My biggest concern is about the quality of new graduates we are receiving into the workplace! Just a short time ago, graduate nurses came out ready to work, and understood the heiarchy of business. They worked hard, and took what they were given, just pleased to have a job. With the nursing shortage, and RN's being in demand, the tabels have turned. These new nurses leave nursing school believing that we need them more than they need us. In addition, they come with a less than stellar work ethic. They don't want to work nights or holidays. This is something that must be fixed! Nursing shortage or not,we cannot accept attitudes like this into the already struggling nursing workplace!
I agree,the nursing shortage is a huge concern. With the majority of the working nursing population consisting of the baby boomer era, soon they will be retiring, taking the bulk of our staff. In efforts to keep this era working a little bit longer, my institution is offering an over 50 program. Offering benefits at the full-time rate for half time employees that are over 50. This seems to be a huge satisfier and is keeping them in the hospitals a little bit longer.
To address the recruitment, we have increased wages to the top of the market in addition to offering incentives for extra hours worked (in addition to overtime). These are attracting the younger, money driven populations.
My biggest concern is about the quality of new graduates we are receiving into the workplace! Just a short time ago, graduate nurses came out ready to work, and understood the heiarchy of business. They worked hard, and took what they were given, just pleased to have a job. With the nursing shortage, and RN's being in demand, the tabels have turned. These new nurses leave nursing school believing that we need them more than they need us. In addition, they come with a less than stellar work ethic. They don't want to work nights or holidays. This is something that must be fixed! Nursing shortage or not,we cannot accept attitudes like this into the already struggling nursing workplace!
This is a very attractive blog. I like the brown and blue combo. So professional. Yes the nursing shortage has affected patient care. There are not enough qualified Nurses who stay and work the staff positions long term. So these slots are filled with PRN and agency nurses. The continuity of care of the patients is definitely an issue. I have heard this from patients as well as personal friends who have been patients in the healthcare system.
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