Nursing Shortages

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how for the first time in the history of nursing, nurses have been retiring at a faster rate than new nurses could move in and replace them. This paper takes a look at the reasons for this problem and discusses various responses to this issue.

From the Paper:

"Working conditions and environment were another factor. Nurses complained of mandatory overtime, inadequate staffing, questions and issues of morale, weak leadership and poorly trained assistant personnel (Watson 2002). The acute shortage of RNs was noted especially in the emergency room, intensive care and the operating room. Other factors, which contributed to the shortage, included the rise of many home health care agencies, new and more convenient community settings and health care services, which brought higher salaries and greater benefits than those offered by hospitals (Brown 2003). Research showed that the decrease in interest in the general hospital since the early 1990s was not linked with the nurses' educational level, experience or performance but with their work shift. Dr. Georges Benjamin, secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, reported to the US Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Aging in February 2001 that the shortage was due to insufficient nurses entering the profession, not staying in it and not happy in their jobs (Romig 2001). The report of the Congressional Research Service suggested that it was due to a mal-distribution of labor rather than a shortage of RNs, such as poor personnel decisions. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Benjamin, Georges C. (2000). The Nursing Shortage in Crisis in Health Care. Physician Executive. American College of Physician Executives.
• Beyea, S. C. (2002). AORN's Reponse to the Nursing Shortage in Perspective Settings. AORN Journal. Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
• Brown, G. (2003). Nursing is Critically Ill: Why? What Can Be Done to Help Alleviate the Nursing Shortage. Minority Nurse Newsletter: Tucker Publications, Inc.
• The Nursing Shortage: Economics, Consumer Demands, Technology and Legislation.
• Kansas Nurse (2003). Addressing the National Nursing Shortage. State Nurses Association

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