CAREER ESSAY

 

What Is Being Done to Eliminate the Nursing Shortage?

 

 

Anna Skilton

2:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Is Being Done to Eliminate the Nursing Shortage?

 

 

 

            “The nation’s current nursing shortage contributes to tens of thousands of yearly deaths due to hospital mistakes such as patients falls and infections,” according to a reports released by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (“New”).  As this crisis continues to threaten the nation, many efforts are being implemented to eliminate the nursing shortage.  Increased employment incentives, federal grants and scholarships, plus advertising are three approaches to lure more people into the nursing profession.

              One effort to address the shortage is to improve the working conditions for nurses.  First and foremost is an attempt to lure new nurses to the field with money. According to Alison Smith, assistant editor of Nursing Economic$, every issue of Nursing Spectrum is “littered with signing bonuses and promises of higher pay” (Smith).  As this quote suggests, salaries are becoming much more competitive for nurses.  Starting pay averages $38,000 a year, and specialized nurses can expect to earn $100,000 or more, claims Kiplinger’s Personal Finance (“Help”).  In addition to competitive salaries and signing bonuses another effort is to eliminate mandatory overtime.  According to Kristine Goodwin, in her article “States Tackle the Nursing Shortage,” six states have now enacted legislation to prohibit or limit nurses from working mandatory overtime (Goodwin).    Enforcing a nurse to patient ratio is another incentive to attract new nurses. Nurses are overwhelmed with the heavy patient loads and because of this many hospitals are having trouble holding on to their current employees.  According to Yin, in her article  “Wanted: One Million Nurses,” one nurse claims “the last straw came when she was a temp nurse at an assisted living facility where the ratio of nurse to patients was an astounding 1 to 84” (Yin).  The problem is so overt, that the government is stepping in. According to Lori Przymusnik in her article “Nursing: A Humanistic Profession,” California is the first state to address this "requiring hospitals to establish consistent nurse to patient ratios" (Przymusnik).  Enforcing a nurse to patient ratio would put less stress on nurses.  Increasing salaries, eliminating mandatory overtime, and nurse to patient ratios will help create better working environments and therefore encourage a career in nursing as well as hold on to the current employees.

            Another effort to eliminate the nursing shortage besides employment incentives are scholarships and grant programs.  Federal scholarships in exchange for a work committment are leading the way. In August 2002 President Bush signed the Nurse Reinvestment Act, which offers scholarships in exchange for at least two years of nursing service at facilities with critical shortage (“Help”)  Many states are also playing their part in helping to increase the number of people going into the nursing field.  According to Smith, The Florida International University School of Nursing offers scholarship programs to college freshman prior to selecting a major (“Responses”). This should help to entice more undecided college freshman to lean towards a career in nursing.  Actions to solve the shortage are also being addressed locally.  According to Smith,  "many community organizations have initiated programs to promote entry into the profession through scholarships" (“Responses” ).  With many grants and nursing scholarships young student should be encouraged to take up a career in nursing hence helping to eliminate the shortage. 

            The final effort besides improved work conditions and scholarships is marketing campaigns used to promote a career choice in nursing.  A major corporation, Johnson and Johnson is advertising to encourage a career in nursing.  According to Yin, they have created recruitment materials for distribution by school guidance counselors (Yin).  This will help to draw more high school graduates into a nursing career.  Johnson and Johnson has also sponsored a web site that contains information about a career in nursing, scholarship opportunities, financial aid, and links to schools and health care organizations, states Smith (Smith.)   Another effort to reach young people is a campaign launched by the Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow.  Efforts are going beyond high school students and are starting as young as preschool.  The University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing discusses the profession with preschool and elementary school children along with allowing them a tour of hospitals so they can experience first hand what a nurse is, claims Yin.  To promote a career in nursing ads are run in “436 movie theaters and are expected to reach 2.5 million people,” Yin adds (Yin).  Advertising in movies and on the web will help to reach more people who may have considered a career in nursing but were not aware of the many benefits or how to go about achieving it. 

            In conclusion, employment incentives, scholarships, and advertising will hopefully help attract nurses to the field and help alleviate the shortage. With many more seeking a career in nursing, the quality of health care will be improved .  With the many efforts being enforced by the government, state, and communities this crisis should hopefully be eliminated.

Works Cited

 

 

Goodwin, Kristine.  “States Tackling the Nursing Shortage.”  State Legislatures  Oct/Nov

                2002: 20. Academic Search Premier.  Ebsco Publishing,  Manatee Community

                Coll. Lib., Bradenton.  22 Jan 2003  http://www.epnet.com

“Help Wanted, Stat.”  Kiplinger’s Personal Finance  Jan. 2003: 22  Academic Search

                Premier.  Ebsco Publishing.  Manatee Community Coll. Lib., Bradenton.

                22 Jan. 2003  http://www.epnet.com

“New Law Aims to Ease U.S. Nursing Shortage.”  Nations Health  Oct 2002: 5

                Academic Search Premier.  Ebsco Publishing.  Manatee Community Coll.

                Lib., Bradenton.  30 Jan. 2003  http://www.epnet.com

Przymusinski, Lori.  “Nursing: A Humanistic Profession.”  Humanist Jan/Feb 2003: 45

                Academic Search Premier.  Ebsco Publishing.  Manatee Community Coll. Lib.,

                Bradenton.  11 Feb. 2003  http://www.epnet.com

Smith, Alison P.  “Responses to the Nursing Shortage: Policy, Press, Pipeline, and

        Perks.”  Nursing Economic$  Nov/Dec 2002: 287-290.  Academic Search

        Premier.  Ebsco Publishing.  Manatee Community Coll. Lib., Bradenton.

        27 Jan. 2003 http://www.epnet.com

Yin, Sandra.  “Wanted: One Million Nurses.”  American Demographics  Sept. 2002: 6

                Academic Search Premier.  Ebsco Publishing.  Manatee Community Coll. Lib.,

                Bradenton.  22 Jan. 2003  http://www.epnet.com