| By some experts' estimates, there will be a | | | | The longer life spans of patients are leading to |
| shortage of nearly 350,000 nurses (RNs) by the | | | | more patients than ever, which is also contributing |
| year 2020. And while this is significantly lower than | | | | to the shortage of nurses. This is making it very |
| earlier estimates, this is still not good news. The | | | | difficult for nurses to keep up with their workload. |
| nursing shortage in the United States is coming | | | | And finally, the health care system's desire to cut |
| right at the time when baby boomers are aging | | | | costs has led to increased hiring of LPNs and MAs. |
| and the extension of the national average life | | | | While these medical professionals are helping to |
| span. Who is going to care for these people when | | | | ease the workload, there is still a driving demand |
| they become older or have health problems? | | | | for qualified RNs. |
| That's the biggest concern for health care | | | | What is this doing to our Healthcare System? |
| professionals today. | | | | To say that the lack of nurses isn't significantly |
| Why are there so few nurses? | | | | affecting the health care system is untrue. Since |
| The first question that most people have when it | | | | there are fewer nurses, there are a number of |
| comes to the nursing shortage is - why are there | | | | effects being felt by patients, doctors, hospitals, |
| so few nurses? It doesn't seem to be an | | | | and insurance companies. |
| unpopular profession, so why aren't more men | | | | - Less one on one patient care |
| and women choosing nursing for their career | | | | - More burnt out nurses |
| path? There are a number of possible answers. | | | | - Less attention to patient needs |
| - Lack of funds for education costs | | | | - Problems with medication dispensing |
| - Scheduling difficulties | | | | - More medical errors |
| - Overworking of current nurses drives them out | | | | Patients are beginning to notice that they aren't |
| of the system | | | | able to have that one on one care that helps |
| - Aging of nurses leads to retirement | | | | them feel more comfortable when they are ill. |
| - Longer life spans of patients, leading to more | | | | Nurses have a number of patients to take care |
| patients | | | | of and are often unable to stay with one patient |
| - Health care systems' reliance on LPNs, MAs, and | | | | for a long period of time. |
| home health care aides | | | | What is being done about the problem? |
| Educational costs for college are skyrocketing for | | | | Since the problem is hard to avoid, the next |
| all majors and professions, making it difficult for | | | | obvious question is - what is being done to help |
| anyone to obtain a college education. Many people | | | | increase the number of nurses? There are |
| who consider the nursing field can not afford the | | | | several different tactics hat are being |
| classes they need to take and they do not want | | | | implemented: |
| to take out student loans to cover the costs. | | | | - More scholarships for nursing students |
| Nursing classes are sometimes scheduled at odd | | | | - Better scheduling for nursing classes |
| hours of the day. It makes it difficult for those | | | | - Lower cost nursing degrees |
| with job and family responsibilities to make their | | | | - Hiring bonuses for nurses |
| classes. | | | | - Advanced accelerated nursing degree programs |
| Some current nurses are quitting their jobs to | | | | - Higher salaries and benefits for new nurses |
| take on a new career. The lack of nurses means | | | | Though the nursing shortage is much smaller than |
| more responsibility for current nurses, which can | | | | it used to be due to these efforts to keep |
| lead them to feeling burnout and frustrated. | | | | bringing in new nursing students, there is still much |
| Of course, many current nurses are nearing | | | | more to be done. |
| retirement, which is further creating a shortage in | | | | About Author : |
| the nursing field. | | | | Grant Eckert is a writer for Tafford Uniforms. |