Running head: NURSING SHORTAGES 1

Nursing Shortages

Elena Stankevich

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

Quality and Safety in Nursing I

NUR 3206

Cynthia R. Woods RN, MSN

"I pledge."

March 12, 2017

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Nursing Shortages

The topic of nursing shortages has been the focus of different healthcare organizations for

some time, and this dilemma has no easy answers due to its multifaceted nature as an issue in the

first place. News and other media coverage have touched on the notion of nursing shortages, by

creating hazardous patient care scenarios. Nursing shortages affect different countries all over the

world. Communities require higher levels of patient care, and nurses struggle to provide multiple

patient care approaches. Nevertheless, what are the main causes of such shortages, and how can

they be effectively managed (see Figure 1, for Root Cause Analysis)?

First, The Truth About Nursing (2007), outlines the main causes of this problem:

These causes include nurse short-staffing, poor work conditions, inadequate resources for

nursing research and education, the aging nursing workforce, the increasing complexity of health

care and care technology, and the rapidly aging populations in developed nations (para.1). This

article states that the shortage of nurses may be attributed to the fact that women have the variety

of career options available for them in the medical field. The American Nurses Association

(ANA) builds on this concept even further: America is seeing vast increases in the number of

people over 65. This age group has many medical and health needs, and will put a strain on our

health system (para. 3). Hence, its necessary to increase the number of nursing staff in order to

handle communitys demands and needs.

Along with the other concerns regarding nursing staff levels, there are issues of financing

and economic incentives for new candidates in the field, as well as the profitable impact of

institutions which require experienced medical personnel. Peterson (2001) states, The

dynamics impacting the demand for registered nursing services are primarily economic in nature:

how much reimbursement will the facility receive for the care provided and how many workers
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and at what cost are employers willing to hire (para. 11). The financial health of a facility can

influence the decision of hiring new staff members. However, the downside of this idea is not

hiring enough nurses can create potentially dangerous patient to nurse ratios. Thus, it would be a

prudent decision to maintain adequate staffing levels and combat the nursing shortages to ensure

the safety and quality of delivered patient centered care.

Lastly, high turnover and dissatisfaction with the job due to working conditions and nurse

staffing ratios contribute to nursing shortages. Rosseter (2014) notes, Insufficient staffing is

raising the stress level of nurses, impacting job satisfaction, and driving many nurses to leave the

profession ( para. 19), which would seem to be a self-sabotaging philosophy since collaboration

is needed rather than driving people away from the profession. Rosseter (2014) adds that High

nurse turnover and vacancy rates are affecting access to health care ( para. 20). Essentially, if

no one is there to provide patient care; it will limit a patient access to necessary services. Thus,

addressing the nursing shortages is the key to ensuring patients satisfactory outcomes.

So, what can be done to alleviate nursing shortages? Some scientists suggest the

implementation of reward programs such as sign-up bonuses, continuing education classes, and a

new approach towards a nursing leadership. Others think that using methods such as evidence-

based practices and adequate training for incoming nurses will be also beneficial for providing

safe and effective patient care. Regardless, a new path must be utilized for the healthcare system

to develop a plan of nursing shortages reduction, and, thus, helping communities to maintain the

services that are vital for peoples health and safety.

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inadequate poor work

resources conditions
patient to

Nursing
shortages

aging nursing patients to

workforce nurse ration

Figure 1, Root Cause Analysis of Nursing Shortages.

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References

American Nurses Association. (2017). Nursing Shortage. Nursingworld.org. Retrieved 7 March

2017, from http://www.nursingworld.org/nursingshortage

Buchan, J. & Aiken, L. (2008). Solving nursing shortages: a common priority. Retrieved 7 March

2017, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2858425/

(Cartographer). (2017). Root Cause Analysis of Nursing Shortages [Figure 1].

Facts about the nursing shortage. (2001). Nursesource.org. Retrieved 7 March 2017, from

http://www.nursesource.org/facts_shortage.html

Peterson, C. (2001). Nursing Shortage: Not a Simple Problem - No Easy Answers.

Nursingworld.org. Retrieved 7 March 2017, from

http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/O

JIN/TableofContents

Rosseter, R. (2014). American Association of Colleges of Nursing | Nursing Shortage.

Aacn.nche.edu. Retrieved 7 March 2017, from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/media-

relations/fact-sheets/nursing-shortage

What is the nursing shortage and why does it exist? (2007). Truthaboutnursing.org. Retrieved 7

March 2017, from http://www.truthaboutnursing.org/faq/nursing_shortage.htm