The Nursing Shortage Essays -- Nurse Medical Medicine Health 2014

Table of ContentsThe Problem2The Causes of the Nursing Shortage2The Impact of the Nursing Shortage5Current Federal law6Alternatives8Recommendations9Works Cited11The ProblemCurrent literature continues to reiterate the indicators of a major shortage of registered nurses (RNs) in the United States. The integral RN population has been increasing since 1980, which means that we have more RNs in this country than ever before (Nursing Shortage). Even though the RN population is increasing, it is increase at a much slower rate then when compared to the rate of growth of the U.S. population (Nursing Shortage). We are seeing less skilled nurses at a time of an increasingly aging population with complex care needs and an increasingly complex technological care environment (Mion). According to recent information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Department of Health and charitable Services, it is estimated that more than a million new and replacement nurses will be needed over th e close decade (Diagnosis Critical). A chronic nursing shortage has been a reoccurring problem that impacts the future of our health care system and, even more so, the future feature of long-term care in this country. Currently, there are several federal and state initiatives, organizations, and agencies dedicated to solutions of the shortage. However, we continue to lack the necessary number of RNs needed to pose quality care to a population with growing health care demands.The Causes of the Nursing ShortageThere are several factors that are considered the causes of the nursing shortage. belles-lettres suggests that the shortage is linked to factors related to current population trends and the nature of the health care e... ...rvey.htm.Spetz, Joanne, and Sara Adams. How Can Employment-Based Benefits Help the Nurse Shortage? Health Affairs 25 (Jan.-Feb. 2006) 212-218. ProQuest . Ithaca Coll. Lib., Ithaca, NY. 10 Dec. 2012. . State Legislative Initiatives to Address the Nursin g Shortage. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Oct. 2006. 11 Dec. 2012 . Toward a Method for Identifying Facilities and Communities with Shortages of Nurses. Health Resourses and Services Administration. 2004. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 5 Dec. 2012 . What Works Healing the Healthcare Staffing Shortage. Modern Healthcare 37.29 (July 2007). ABI/INFORM. ProQuest. Ithaca Coll. Lib., Ithaca, NY. 2 Dec. 2007.