In 2002, the shortage of nurses was around 125,000 or 6% of the full time RN. Current estimates are that by 2020, the nursing shortage will be closing to 800,000 RN’s. Currently, we are seeing 21,000 fewer students in nursing school then we did in 1995. …show more content…
We need to make nursing attractive again. Increase funding for grants and scholarships for potential nurses will make the nursing profession more attractive and thus more people will want to pursue a nursing profession. I strongly support the Title VIII reauthorization of the nursing workforce 2016. This Bill will allow for a wide range of services, including, grants, scholarships, training, awareness of other approaches to increase the attractiveness of the nursing profession and the retention of the current nursing workforce. I am also a big supporter of the Minimum staffing requirements in each state. On one hand experts suggest that the minimum staffing requirement will put an extra burden on hospitals and healthcare facilities to increase their budget and as a result will further exacerbate the nursing shortage. However, my belief is that these staffing requirements will create a higher baseline of healthcare for our patients, a diminished workload for nurses and a higher satisfaction rate among current nurses. This will result in higher quality care for clients and higher retention rates among current …show more content…
Soon I will be representing this workforce and be exposed to a number of real life concerns that I only read about in school. The process of becoming a nurse has been a long and rewarding processing. The adventure of practicing as a nurse will be a lifelong adventure filled with various obstacles. I’m excited to enter the workforce and represent the millions of other RN’s in the Unites States. At the same, time its critical for me to understand all of the issues and problems that the Nursing workforce is facing and will potentially face in the next 10 years. My lifelong dream has always been to help people and be of service to those in need. My experience during my rotations in the hospital thus far has only secured my love and desire for medicine and patient care. And while patient care and patient safety is always going to be the most important thing, it’s important to understand that there are so many other – non-patient care- related issues that we, as nurses, will face. Understanding the importance of a fair wage, the increased demand on healthcare facilities as a result of the affordable health care act, safe work conditions, and many other issues is important to me. It is important that we understand all the outside issues that will face us as we journey into the world of nursing. We have to be educated on the issues. We have to fight for fair wages, overtime laws, workplace