As the Baby Boomer generation starts to age and exit the workforce, the job market is likely to experience deficits in skilled workers. However, the nursing field seems to face an additional challenge as the need for such professionals continues to grow. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Projections 2019-2029 reports that the job growth for the occupation of Registered Nursing will remain a constant all the way through the next decade (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2017). Simultaneously, expert forecasts suggest there is going to be a shortage of registered nurses in the U.S. between 2016 and 2030 (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2017).
Rates of enrollment in nursing schools are not increasing in direct proportion to the high demand of professionals in this occupation. In turn, this is caused by scarce teaching staff available at nursing institutions. Furthermore, although the aging population continues to grow, which creates a high demand for nursing practitioners, thousands of nurses retire (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2017). As for the effects of this issue, the shortage results in less safe and accessible care due to high retirement and turnover rates. Additionally, understaffing leads to the development of a highly stressful work environment, leaving nurses unsatisfied and more likely to quit.
In regards to the solutions, one could argue that it is important to make it easier for recent college graduates to get hired as nurses or leverage the newest data-driven technology to aid the hiring process. However, these solutions may be effective only in short term. In order to initiate a significant change, it is crucial to implement a solution, which will work in the long run. Thus, nursing organizations and medical centers should focus on minimizing stress for nurses and the possibility of burnout. Some strategies to implement this solution include fostering a healthy work environment, prioritizing workers’ needs, investing in employee assistance programs, as well as developing internal career paths.
Reference
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2017). Fact sheet: Nursing shortage. AACN Nursing. Web.