Nursing Shortages

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how the transition from graduate to professional nurse is difficult and stressful. The paper analyzes how new graduate nurses are at a high risk for leaving the profession. The paper examines how the hospital or organization that employs nurses must support learning programs with funding, expertise, and encouragement. The writer proposes that orientation programs need to be longer and specially geared to the problems of new nurses. The writer further argues that when hospitals show that they value nurses, by doing everything within their power to help novices grow into expert nurses, increased retention will be the result.

From the Paper:

"The transition from nursing school to professional nursing is extremely stressful. The demands and challenges of the workplace can be overwhelming. New graduates may start out excited and joyful but soon are hit with the reality of the workplace. Expectations for caregiving have changed significantly too. Length of stays, for example, have decreased dramatically so that only very sick people are in the hospital (Ellerton, 2003). Many new nurses feel under-prepared and experience great anxiety about making mistakes and possibly harming their patients. Many feel that they lack knowledge to communicate effectively with doctors and with family members and feel inadequate for the job. The reality of the workplace is a shock. In school they were imbued with high ideals, but the workplace requires them to carry a larger caseload of patients with serious medical problems."

Sample of Sources Used:

• AACN web site. (American Association of College of Nursing). Nursing Shortage Fact Sheet: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/Backgrounders/shortagefacts.htm.
• Agrantiflax, A. (2001). NSNA offers tips for guiding and keeping new nurses. The American Nurse, March/April, 4-5.
• Ashcraft, T. R. (2004). New nurses, new beginnings. Nursing Management, April, 35 (4), 22.
• Block, L. M., Claffey, C., Korow, M. K. and McCaffrey, R. (2005). The value of mentorship within nursing organizations. Nursing Forum, Oct. 40 (4), 134.
• Boswell, S., Lowry, L. W. and Wilhoit, K. (2004). New nurses' perceptions of nursing practice and quality patient care. Journal of Nursing Care Quarterly, 19 (1), 76-81.

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