As the Baby Boomer generation ages and leaves the labour force, the employment market is likely to encounter a shortage of skilled workers. However, the nursing profession appears to be facing an extra hurdle as the need for such workers grows. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Projections 2019-2029, job growth for the occupation of Registered Nursing will be consistent over the next decade (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2017). Simultaneously, experts predict a shortage of registered nurses in the United States between 2016 and 2030. (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2017).
Nursing school enrollment is not expanding in direct proportion to the increased demand for specialists in this field. This, in turn, is driven by a scarcity of teaching faculty at nursing schools. Furthermore, despite the fact that the ageing population produces a strong demand for nursing practitioners, thousands of nurses retire each year (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2017). As regards the consequences of this issue, high retirement and turnover rates result in less safe and accessible care. Furthermore, understaffing creates a highly stressful work atmosphere, leaving nurses dissatisfied and more inclined to quit.
In terms of remedies, one may argue that it is critical to make it simpler for recent college graduates to get hired as nurses or to use the most up-to-date data-driven technologies to assist in the recruiting process. These methods, however, may only be beneficial in the short run. It is critical to execute a solution that will work in the long run in order to launch a meaningful transformation. As a result, nursing organisations and medical centres should prioritise reducing stress for nurses and the risk of burnout. Fostering a healthy work environment, prioritising workers’ needs, investing in employee support programmes, and building internal career routes are some strategies for implementing this approach.
Reference
The American Association of Nursing Colleges (2017). Nursing shortage fact sheet Web. AACN Nursing.
