Shortages in the Nursing Profession

The nursing shortage that has become a long-term problem for the United States creates a very real problem for both the public and the healthcare system. The shortage has fluctuated from year to year, but it peaked in 2001 with over 120,000 positions left empty, the direct effect of which was the closure of many nursing units and the cutback of operations in hospitals all over the country (Buerhaus, Auerbach & Staiger, 2009, pg. w657). This shortage creates an avalanche effect that makes existing nurses overworked and overstressed which further weakens the ability of hospitals to provide quality healthcare to the public, ultimately hurting everyone involved.

The projected shortage leading up to 2016 caused by increased demand and retirement of the existing workforce suggests that this problem is going to only get worse (Aiken, Cheung & Olds, 2009, pg. w646). One of the ways that the nursing profession is working to counter this growing issue is through education. Considering how many potential nurses are either turned away from nursing schools or unable to finish for financial reasons, increased public subsidies for nursing students are considered to be one of the most promising possibilities for the future (Aiken, Chueng & Olds, 2009, pg. w654). Even though throwing money at a problem is usually the most obvious and seldom the best solution, in this case, it very well may be. The math is that there are plenty of nurse applicants but not enough graduating with degrees and not enough graduating with the correct kinds of degrees (Aiken, Cheung & Olds, 2009, pgs. 650-51). By making it possible for these financially limited applicants to afford nursing school and by targeting these subsidies to the types of degrees most needed, the nursing profession could see its needs met before the shortage entirely cripples the healthcare system.

References

Aiken, L. H., Cheung, R. B., & Olds, D. M. (2009). Education policy initiatives to address the nurse shortage in the United States. Health Affairs, 28(4), w646-656. Retrieved August 21, 2013, from http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/28/4/w646.full.pdf 

Buerhaus, P. I., Auerbach, D. I., & Staiger, D. O. (2009). The recent surge of nurse employment: Causes and implications. Health Affairs, 28(4), w657-w668. Retrieved August 21, 2013, from http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/28/4/w657.full.pdf