The Availability of Nurses

Peter Buerhaus of Vanderbilt University predicts that by the terminal of the decade, the registered breast feeding subject field force will drop to 20 percent below the demand, leaving a shortage of o'er 400,000 nurses nationwide.

Nursing education has changed dramatically, with 40 percent fewer women choosing breast feeding as a profession since 1973 (Cooper, 2003). Nursing school enrolment for an entry-level baccalaureate degree program in the Fall of 1999 drop off for the fifth year in a row. At the identical time, the two-year associate degree program usually attracts students over 30 years of age, adding to the ageing nursing population. The number of multitude entering this program has increased considerably, and many of these nurses abide families already so wish to work shorter hours. Faculty members atomic number 18 aging too, and the average age of new doctoral recipients is now 45 years. Doctoral program enrollment has been flat since 1996, meaning thither won't be enough professors to teach forthcoming nurses.

A just problem is the wages for nurses (Cooper, 2003). Wages for RNs only increased 3 percent between 1983 and 1991, and by 1994, wages began to fall. Managed c are meant less(prenominal) need for nurses in hospitals, as many patients receive station care in this system. An economic recession also caused a decrease in wages for RNs, and since 72 percent of RNs are married, it is often

The problem is that nursing is a 24-hour business, and shortages results in nurses having to work longer hours. Many nurses are leaving the profession because of this, or working outside hospitals in managed care facilities and private clinics (Cooper, 2003). An American Nurses Association survey in 2001 found that 88 percent of nurses cited health and safety issues as influencing their decision as to whether to remain in the nursing profession, and what types of work they wished to do in the profession (Buss, 2003). Nursing used to be a profession for young women, and they often left formerly they got married.

This is not the case anymore, and the older nurses are also having to bed with the problems which come with aging - orthopedic problems (back, foot, knee, and wrist problems), physical outwear from working long hours, and family demands. Sleep deprivation can have serious consequences for patients because the nursing staff who are sleep disadvantaged are more likely to make mistakes.

According to wee results posted by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), enrollments in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs increased by 15.9 percent in the fall of 2003 compared to the previous year (AACN, 2003). This continues a three-year upward veer in college enrollment for nursing students, but the growth is unagitated far short of what is needed to cover the current and future nursing shortage. In a report published towards the wipeout of last year, Dr. Peter Buerhaus of the AACN stated that:

"Because the number of young RNs has lessen so

Nelson, T. (February 2004). Colorado State U.:Male nurses recruited for nursing shortage. The America's Intelligence Wire.

Fisher, J. P. (February 2004). Raleigh, N. C., infirmary invests to reduce nursing shortage. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

of young flock in nursing programs would have to

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