nursing shortage – JRM Nurse Consultants

It seems that the nursing shortage has been an issue since I was going to school. I remember at one point I received a one year full scholarship to go to nursing school my first year; then the 2^nd year I received a letter that stated the President decided the nursing shortage was over and cut my full scholarship for the second year, forcing me to get student loans. That is enough to make you mad! But now as I practice as a nurse, I see that there is still a shortage of nurses in many fields (Moore, 2015). For instance in the hospital what I see is that they do not hire too many nurses because if they have too many on the unit and they don’t float them to another unit, they will send them home without pay because there is not sufficient work. When my son was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, I had to walk past high risk antepartum, one day the lights were dim, and there was no one around. I got a bit concerned that something had happened. There was a sign that said, “unit closed.” When I inquired, someone stated that the unit was closed because the patient census was down. Of course two days later, it reopened.

I see that nurses are overworked because of the shortage as well. The shortage is only getting worse as the years go by because the baby boomers are soon going to be retiring and there are no new nurses to take their place (“Focus on Education,” 2010). There are also articles that speak about new nurses graduating, but their minimal level of education required will be the bachelor’s level plus all the clinical involved with that level. There are entrance exams to some nursing schools, making it difficult for the student to pass. Of course, education should be taken to the next level due to the more complex illnesses and family dynamics that we have today.

In order to not continuously have a shortage, employers need to realize that yes there is a shortage and hiring more staff to help the current nurses and not over tap them will be more productive in the long run. The medical cases are getting more complex these days for patients in the hospital, therefore making it important for nurses to have a higher level of education. The colleges have to start sending representatives to the high schools to start recruiting future nurses so that when they graduate, we can add more nurses to the profession. Recruiters need to present the pros and cons of being a nurse and look for candidates that will be a good fit for the nursing profession.

References

Moore, M. (2015). The nursing shortage and the doctor shortage are two very different things. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/06/05/the-nursing-shortage-and-the-doctor-shortage-are-two-very-different-things/

The future of nursing: Focus on education. (2010). Retrieved from http://nursejournal.org/articles/the-future-of-nursing-infographic/

Rosie Moore, RN, DNP

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It seems that the nursing shortage has been an ongoing issue for decades. I remember receiving a full one-year scholarship to attend nursing school my first year, only to have it revoked the second year when officials decided the nursing shortage was “over,” forcing me to take out student loans. This was frustrating, to say the least.

Even now, in my non-clinical role as a legal nurse, I observe that many nursing fields continue to experience staffing shortages (Moore, 2015). In hospitals, staffing decisions are often influenced by patient volume. Hospitals may hire fewer nurses to avoid having excess staff on a unit. If units have too many nurses, staff may be sent home without pay due to insufficient work.

During my son’s stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), I witnessed firsthand the effects of these staffing challenges. One day, I walked past a high-risk antepartum unit to find it dimly lit and empty. Concerned, I inquired and was told the unit was temporarily closed due to a lack of patients. While it reopened shortly after, this highlighted how unit closures, even if temporary, are influenced by patient flow rather than consistent coverage.

Overworked nurses are another consequence of staffing shortages. Articles indicate that the problem may worsen as baby boomers retire and there aren’t enough new nurses to fill their positions (“Focus on Education,” 2010). Entrance exams and minimum educational requirements can make it difficult for prospective students to enter the profession. However, advancing education is essential, given the increasingly complex medical cases and family dynamics nurses face today.

To address the shortage, healthcare employers must take proactive steps. Hiring more staff can prevent current nurses from becoming overextended, improve patient care, and reduce burnout. Additionally, colleges and hospitals should collaborate with high schools to recruit future nurses, presenting both the challenges and rewards of the profession. Identifying candidates who are a good fit for nursing will help ensure that graduates are prepared and committed to the field.

The nursing shortage is a multifaceted issue that affects patient care, staff morale, and the overall healthcare system. By taking steps to recruit, educate, and support new and existing nurses, we can build a stronger, more resilient workforce for the future.

References

The future of nursing: Focus on education. (2010). Retrieved from http://nursejournal.org/articles/the-future-of-nursing-infographic/

Years of experience in Work Comp, Case Management, Disease Management, Utilization Review and Prior Authorization.

Tag Archives: nursing shortage

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