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Nursing Shortage

Back in 2012 the shortage of RN’s started being noticeable and it has only gotten worse since then, as we all know. There were already major issues and the current pandemic has just exacerbated the problem. We are all well aware of the dedication and bravery that America’s RN’s are showing especially facing the pandemic and the shortages in medical facilities across the country present day.

Nursing shortages have come and go since the early 1900’s. Many factors contribute to these shortages from economic recessions to wars and everything in between. But now with the pandemic the shortage seems to be ongoing and there are no signs of it slowing down. It is estimated that 1.2 million new registered nurses will be needed by 2030 and needless to say nursing programs are having a hard time trying to meet this demand.

Since February of this year 2021 RN’s are in the top five of most in-demand jobs in our society. The Baby Boomer generation are all in their 60’s and older now and the need for professional healthcare providers has never been higher. By 2030 there will be an estimated population of more than 73 million of us in the 65+ category. The excesses and bad food we were raised with are definitely taking its toll as more of the aging population becomes sicker and more dependent on our failing healthcare system. Our lifespans have gotten longer but the quality of those years comes into question as we age. More years mean more services will be required for this group in addition to all the other problems we face, including the current pandemic. The increase in age in this group also means lots of nursing professionals are retiring and it is hard to imagine that we can keep up with the numbers needed to provide quality care for patients in need.  Many RN’s even chose early retirement when the pandemic hit in order to protect themselves and their families.

Registered nurses face many stressors in their jobs, facing urgent life-altering decisions and long hours every day that they go to work. Budget cuts and shortages due to the current pandemic only add to this dilemma. Many RN’s have been forced to change their focus to critical care which can be even more demanding and stressful. Less time for each patient and more stress can mean there will be less attention to details and more mistakes and reduced job performance which compromises the quality of care we are able to provide our patients.

Having fewer nurses on staff puts more demand on the healthcare professionals that are on the jobs. Hospitals are recruiting and trying their best to facilitate the demand we are facing. It means there are longer wait times and shorter time allotted for each patient and treatments that are required.

There are really no quick answers to this problem but encouraging our youth and providing educational incentives can help alleviate these issues. One positive side to this issue is the fact that opportunities have increased for those willing to work.

We know you are doing your best and we want you to know that you are appreciated. Hopefully we can find ways to address these shortage issues so that we can continue to provide quality care for the many patients who need it.