The shortage of health sciences professionals is most often associated with the demand for nursing staff. Nurses represent hospitals’ largest labor expense, amount to the single highest component to the hospital staff. Nurses are the primary providers of hospital patient care aside from the Physician's visits throughout the patient’s stay, from“Birth and death, and all other forms of care in between, are attended by nurses” (“Nursing World”, 2001). There are very few other health professions which help to make such a positive contribution to society in everyday life. Despite the fact that nursing is an important role and rewarding job, we are facing a nursing shortage that has been growing more each year. Given their high importance in health
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Research indicates that the current nursing shortage is different from past shortages. “The current shortage cannot be rectified solely by raising wages, as in the past, because “the root causes – need for a college degree, expanded career options for women, and workplace discontent – extend beyond simple economics” (“Howard S. Berliner”, 2002). In addition, the National League for Nursing’s Tri-Council for Nursing issued a policy statement in which focused on other differences between the current nursing shortage and others in the past. “The new nursing shortage is evidenced by fewer nurses entering the workforce; acute nursing shortages in certain geographic areas; and a shortage of nurses adequately prepared the meet certain areas of patient need in a changing healthcare environment” (“Nursing World”, 2001). The ongoing changes in both healthcare and the financing organization of health care delivery affect the demand for nursing services have been identified by researchers and professional organizations which include “Cost-containment pressures within healthcare organizations resulting from managed care and an increasingly competitive healthcare environment, Hospital consolidation, downsizing and reengineering, Reductions in inpatient hospitalization rates, Increased acuity of hospital …show more content…
After nurses finish their shifts they are mentally, physically, and emotionally drained. A common misconception the general public has been that nurses make good money for the work they do. Due to the mass amount of responsibilities they must provide in a well manner of time, stating they get paid well is an understatement. Nursing salaries vary, but most nurses still feel they are not receiving the correct pay for the amount of work they provide on a daily basis. “Low pay and demanding working conditions are forcing nurses out of the field, or keeping new nurses from entering it. Nurses' organizations have gone on strike in recent years to demand better working environments and higher pay (“Brian Hansen”, 2002).
In order for the nursing profession to thrive and survive the recurrent open positions, significant changes need to take place. The nursing supply and demand services will always be present. However, nurses need to step up and partake in the policy-making stage and make their voice heard and not stay quiet. Nurses also need to improve the quality of these differences and how to address them correctly. Solutions to the nursing shortage are going to be very difficult, but it is possible. The future of nursing is looking bright and
Research indicates that the current nursing shortage is different from past shortages. “The current shortage cannot be rectified solely by raising wages, as in the past, because “the root causes – need for a college degree, expanded career options for women, and workplace discontent – extend beyond simple economics” (“Howard S. Berliner”, 2002). In addition, the National League for Nursing’s Tri-Council for Nursing issued a policy statement in which focused on other differences between the current nursing shortage and others in the past. “The new nursing shortage is evidenced by fewer nurses entering the workforce; acute nursing shortages in certain geographic areas; and a shortage of nurses adequately prepared the meet certain areas of patient need in a changing healthcare environment” (“Nursing World”, 2001). The ongoing changes in both healthcare and the financing organization of health care delivery affect the demand for nursing services have been identified by researchers and professional organizations which include “Cost-containment pressures within healthcare organizations resulting from managed care and an increasingly competitive healthcare environment, Hospital consolidation, downsizing and reengineering, Reductions in inpatient hospitalization rates, Increased acuity of hospital …show more content…
After nurses finish their shifts they are mentally, physically, and emotionally drained. A common misconception the general public has been that nurses make good money for the work they do. Due to the mass amount of responsibilities they must provide in a well manner of time, stating they get paid well is an understatement. Nursing salaries vary, but most nurses still feel they are not receiving the correct pay for the amount of work they provide on a daily basis. “Low pay and demanding working conditions are forcing nurses out of the field, or keeping new nurses from entering it. Nurses' organizations have gone on strike in recent years to demand better working environments and higher pay (“Brian Hansen”, 2002).
In order for the nursing profession to thrive and survive the recurrent open positions, significant changes need to take place. The nursing supply and demand services will always be present. However, nurses need to step up and partake in the policy-making stage and make their voice heard and not stay quiet. Nurses also need to improve the quality of these differences and how to address them correctly. Solutions to the nursing shortage are going to be very difficult, but it is possible. The future of nursing is looking bright and