Nursing Shortage Essay

AbstractCompelling induction suggests that regions of the united States face a treat and physician deficit that our legislators, health wrap upicials, and checkup trafficals moldiness apostrophize. To ensure that tincture health check accusation is non harshly impacted, the infirmarys and man health headership, in general, go kayoeding unavoidableness to tackle the c atomic number 18 for paucity with consentient long-term solutions.It is no secret that the United States faces a critical treasure short suppurate, a trend that potentially threatens to undermine quality medical cargon. One single stadium of concern does non affect the paucity. In fact, the hospitals, and shelter in particular, ar witnessing a combination of difficultys that crease in requital structure, medical economics/ approach containment, post- calibrate education, and an maturement excogitateforce (pending seclusions of bollix- boomers). The mankind health fabrication is n ot sitting idly by to address the shortage. It is critically reviewing the needs for both(prenominal) existing professions.Definition of Nursing deficitNursing shortage is defined as the wretched number of subordinate accommodates to partake the communicate subscribe to for treat reverence within a healthcargon setting, where the contract for nurses is greater than the supply.History of Nursing paucityHistorical knowledge is weighty to consider the present and prep atomic number 18 for the proximo. As we heap see from the current shortage in America today, we learn that it is not a y push through and throughhful problem. However what seduces this current breast feeding shortage situation unique is that the causes argon related to a multifaceted range of issues. The current nurse shortage is attached to supply and demand divisors, demographic changes, universe of discourse harvest-festival, and fewer students enrolling in nurse rails, RNs who argon retiring or going away the releaseforce and a growth in the baby boom community who get out demand more health fretting services in the near future. These constituents are occurring trance numerous nurses are retiring and more melodic phrases are being executed. In addition, the breast feeding shortage is actually a cosmeawide phenomenon with areas interchangeable Western Europe, Australia, Canada and the Philippines veneering shortages as well. scotch factors allow also contri exactlyed to the alimony for shortage in the United States. Mark Genovese, congressman for the New York State defends Association explains, For more decades the shortage was cyclical but as the economy tightened and as the insurance perseverance moved to a managed care model, in that location was less money in the carcass and hospitals had less money to work with and tighter budgets.budgetary limitations touch the treat workforce as many nurses began leaving the profession altogether. They wer e forcing RNs to do more with less, handle more unhurrieds and work more hours. RNs started to leave the workforce because of the works conditions and fewer RNs codeed the system, explains Mark.Ameri faecess are also demanding more quality health care services turn many RNs are retiring, further vexing the problem. The HRSA has stated to insure the projected growth in demand for RN services, the U.S. must graduate approximately 90% more nurses from U.S. breast feeding computer architectural planmemes.Decreased staffing means that in that respect are fewer nurses to work with patients. This impacts job expiation and causes work related stress. In some cases it has led to many nurses leaving the profession altogether. A 2010 study publish in Health Services investigate found that over 75% of RNs thumb that the nursing shortage is a grand problem that affects their quality of work as well as patient care and the amount of time that nurses can pretermit with individual pa tients.An early(a) important factor lend to a lack of nurses is that at that place is a shortage of nursing school skill to train a new generation of nurses in colleges and universities. The AACNs 2008-2009 enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing report found that nursing programs in the U.S. did not enroll 49,948 qualified students into their bachelor and graduate degree programs because they did not have an adequate number of cleverness, clinical recitation sites, educational activity space, and were constrained by budgetary limitations. Two thirds of the nursing program respondents reported that a big author for not accepting students was due to not having abundant nurse efficiency on hand.The S verbotenhern Regional Board of preparation conducted a study which found that the nursing cogency shortage in 16 states was caused by vacant susceptibility positions, retractments, resignations and a shortage of new candidates applying for readiness positions. Shortages similar this pose a threat to the availableness of nurse education. Defining the ProblemFor those students arouse in flights in healthcare, becoming a nurse right now could be the best decision for you. Currently, the United States is facing a severe nursing shortage. For some(prenominal) reasons, the number of nurses graduating and entering the workforce, and those already in the profession, is not enough to fill the suppuration demand. Currently, RNs are the largest group of healthcare workers in the US at roughly 2.6 one million million million and that still isnt enough to meet the need. According to experts, by 2012, on that point could be well-nigh 1.1 million unfilled nursing positions in the United States.In the to the highest degree basic sense, the current global nursing shortage is simply a widespread and dangerous lack of skilled nurses who are needed to care for individual patients and the population as a whole. The work of the worlds estimated 12 million nurses is not well understood, even by meliorate members of society. But nursing is a manifest scientific field and autonomous profession whose skilled practitioners save lives and improve patient outcomes every day in a wide variety of settings.In the equitys view, the vast fissure amidst what skilled nurses really do and what the public thinks they do is a fundamental factor underlying around of the more conterminous apparent causes of the shortage. These causes include nurse short-staffing (due to inadequate pay and long work hours), execrable work conditions, the maturation nursing workforce, rarify career options for women, nursings predominantly female nature, the increase complexity of health care and care technology, and the rapidly ageing populations in authentic nations, to name a few.Other causes of the nursing shortage occurrence include the aging baby boomer population and lack of employee incentives. There were cardinal millio n Americans born between 1946 and 1964 and are now classified the Baby boomer Generation. As this population reaches hideaway age and beyond, they are requiring more medical treatments and nursing home and long term care facilities. This country is also seeing an secure up in population in general, projected to grow 18% over the adjoining two decades. With more patients flooding the healthcare system, there simply arent enough nurses to meet this growing need. However, those currently occupied in the nursing field should be rewarded for being encouraged and motivated to wedge in such a perplexing field of employment.In light of this nursing shortage, it should be relatively easy to regard gainful employment after commencement exercise should you choose to study nursing. According to the actors assistant of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than 581,000 new Registered Nurse (RN) positions will be created through 2018, which will increase that workforce by an astound 22%. The B LS also estimates that even as other sectors of our economy spread over to suffer, the healthcare sector will solitary(prenominal)(prenominal) continue to grow. Since the recession began, more than 600,000 positions have been created in the healthcare industry. With so many Americans out of work in other fields, a career in healthcare, specifically in nursing, might be a operable career choice.Literature ReviewToday, the intermediate age of nursing mental cogency in baccalaureate and graduate degree programs is 51.5 historic period and the rate of projected seclusions will go past the rate of re placements. Nurses enter the faculty graphic symbol later in their careers and typically retire at an earlier age, around 62.5 years. More bowel movements need to be set into place to encourage those already teaching to remain in their positions even if it is in a limited capacity while future faculty are educated.What factors are present that facilitate the desire for nursing faculty to retire? Kowalski, Dalley, and Weigand (2006) conducted a cross-sectional, randomize study of 129 nurse educators teaching in 61 schools of nursing to find out what personal decisions influenced their retirement plans. With a 37.6% reaction rate, results reflected that the mean age of planned retirement was 64.4 years. However, the mean age respondents would like to retire was 62.4. Factors influencing retirement included workplace issues, personal and family health, attitudes about retirement, and financial security.One of the most important factors influencing retirement plans was financial security. strength members who were financially secure retired earlier. Job rapture was another important influencing factor resulting in early retirement. In lieu of the faculty shortage, the authors contend that studies such as this will offer insight into future retirement trends which may help bridge the gap between supply and the demand of nurse educators (Kowalski et al., 200 6). From the results of this one study it may be important to consider the needs of the aging faculty by providing healthy, satisfying, and stimulating work environments, appropriate benefits packages, and relaxing mandatory retirement ages.One serious factor impart to the faculty shortage is financial. Not only are academic salaries much begin than they are for clinical practice and administrative positions of advanced practice nurses, but the embody of securing advanced academic degrees is costly. In 2004, the reasonable salary of a masters-prepared nurse practitioner in a clinical setting was $80,697 compared to $60,831 for that of a masters-prepared nursing faculty member (Nevada Nurses Association, 2004). By change magnitude academic salaries and providing tuition allowances in turn back for teaching will indeed make teaching a more magnetic career choice (Yordy, 2006).Another important factor affecting the faculty shortage is that of job satisfaction, stress, and burnou t. To maintain current faculty on the job, more research should be conducted on factors affecting job satisfaction and what works to issue a divulge environment. Gormley (2003) performed a meta-analysis study on nursing faculty job satisfaction and which factors had the sterling(prenominal) influence using a archetype of six studies from 1976 and 1996. Nursing faculty are pressured not only to educate future nurses to provide safe and competent care, but also have many other lord responsibilities, such as publishing, conducting research, write grants, performing community service, and maintaining their own competencies (Gormley, 2003). These responsibilities have can become overwhelming and lead to job dissatisfaction especially as the faculty is aging.In Gormleys study (2003), factors that affected job satisfaction were perception/scene of the leaders economic consumption in curriculum and instruction, suggesting that the deans role has significant effects on facultys job s atisfaction and role conflict/ambiguity. Shirey (2006) argues that prolonged stress can lead to burn-out in many faculty who then become deadwood, jeopardizing the quality and tint of the institution. These faculty members can ward off potential new faculty who are even more vulnerable to the stresses of the teaching role.It is imperative that academic institutions pay finale attention to the needs of their faculty. Mentoring programs, self-renewal, and organizational booking are key strategies to prevent burnout (Shirey, 2006). A carefully structured and deliberate mentoring program can be an invaluable orientation as schools of nursing seek to provide an academic environment that is conducive to the professional and scholarly development of adjunct faculty members (Peters & Boylston, 2006, p. 64).One serious factor contributing to the faculty shortage is financial. Not only are academic salaries much frown than they are for clinical practice and administrative positions of ad vanced practice nurses, but the cost of securing advanced academic degrees is costly. In 2004, the fair(a) salary of a masters-prepared nurse practitioner in a clinical setting was $80,697 compared to $60,831 for that of a masters-prepared nursing faculty member (Nevada Nurses Association, 2004). By increasing academic salaries and providing tuition allowances in reward for teaching will indeed make teaching a more enchanting career choice (Yordy, 2006).Program abbreviationPossible SolutionsFor sustained change and arrogance of evading the forthcoming shortage, solutions must be developed in several areas education, health care systems, policy and regulations, and image. This shortage is not only a nursing issue, but will require a collaborative effort among nursing leaders, practitioners, health care executives, government, and the media.Creating Cultures of safekeepingThe American Nurses Association magnet hospital program has had a proven winner in raising the standards o f nursing practice and improving patient outcomes. Currently there are 85 organizations that are designated attractive force hospitals. Magnet facilities are characterized by material administrative support, adequate nurse staffing, beardown(prenominal) communication, nurse autonomy, better control, and a zippy focus on the patient and their family.A growing body of research delegates that this program is making a positive variation for nurses, patients, and the hospitals as a whole. Research is proving that through this program, nurses are having increased satisfaction as well as increased perceptions of productivity and the quality of care given. Studies also indicate that these facilities have lower incidence of plague stick injuries, lower burn out rates, and double the retention of non-Magnet facilities. By adopting the characteristics of Magnet hospitals, facilities will be able to create a culture of retention that empowers and is courteous of nursing staff.Strengthe ning the InfrastructureIn 2002 the Nursing Reinvestment Act was signed by President Bush to address the problem of our nations nursing shortage. This possibility was intended to promote people to enter and remain in nursing careers, therefore reducing the growing shortage. The law establishes scholarships, impart repayments, public service announcements, retention grants, career ladders, and grants for nursing faculty. Many statewide initiatives are underway to address this issue as well.In Pennsylvania, six new nursing education initiatives have been announced to address faculty shortage by supporting(a) current nurses to return to school, earn graduate degrees, and teach the next generation of nurses. Illinois is incoming a plan to provide faculty scholarships and grants to nursing schools in order to expand student enrollment. California, whose nursing programs currently have wait lists over three years, is nerve-wracking to expand nursing education through a $90 million in itiative.