| s are one of the most in-demand health care | | | | age of retirement and there are not enough new |
| practitioners in the world. Studies show that the | | | | nurses for replacement. |
| nursing profession exceeds the limit of the human | | | | In the United States--and other developed |
| mind and body. For this reason, it is not surprising | | | | countries-- the number of students enrolling and |
| that the profession is faced with various problems | | | | graduating from Nursing is on a continuous decline. |
| that seem to have little or no solution. Medical | | | | This is also due to the fact that the number of |
| facilities and hospitals are taking this information | | | | nursing educators is dropping; causing universities |
| under serious consideration; making reforms in the | | | | and colleges to refuse admission. |
| practices and distribution of work load to properly | | | | Globalization provided career opportunities for |
| address the issues. | | | | both men and especially women. As a result, the |
| Nurse shortage | | | | women of today seek out employment in other |
| There are approximately 2.8 million registered | | | | fields besides nursing. People are weighing their |
| nurses in the United States alone and yet, it is | | | | options in search of a career that provides a |
| faced with shortage problems. In the US, 30 | | | | worthy compensation and the opportunity to |
| states are suffering due to shortage problems | | | | enhance the quality of life. Many are seeking |
| based on a study that was conducted. Very big | | | | careers in the field of medicine, law, and the |
| percentage of health care facilities lacks the | | | | corporate world that offers lucrative, competitive |
| medical staff to provide basic health care. As a | | | | and attractive compensations. |
| result, health agencies refuse new admissions out | | | | Impact of nurse shortage |
| of their will. The shortage in nurses has been a | | | | The shortage affects both the developing and |
| problem since the Second World War but it has | | | | developed countries. The direct effects on nurses |
| only been in the recent years that it started to | | | | include the increased work load for nurses. Nurses |
| affect the quality of the healthcare services in | | | | handle more patients than they are capable of |
| significant ways. | | | | therefore increasing the risk of human errors due |
| Reasons for nurse shortage | | | | to lack of focus. Turnover rates are increasing as |
| One of the major reasons for the shortage is the | | | | well as the risk of the spread of diseases and |
| job dissatisfaction. Most nurses are stressed out | | | | infection to the patients and staff. Shortage also |
| because of the frequent changes in the schedule, | | | | increases the risk of work related injuries and |
| work overloads, shifting work schedules, and the | | | | deaths. |
| lack of appreciation by superiors and colleagues. | | | | The perception that nurses work with unsafe |
| The steep population growth demands an increase | | | | working conditions eventually leads to more |
| in the health care services. | | | | shortage that affects local and national |
| Aging in the nursing workforce is a big contributing | | | | recruitment efforts. Most importantly, the |
| factor to the problem. The people entering the | | | | increased amount of work increases the level of |
| profession are getting fewer and fewer, causing | | | | stress for nurses and in turn increases chances of |
| the average age of nurses to rise. Many | | | | seeking psychiatric help. |
| experienced nurses are nearing or reaching the | | | | |