Professionally, the shortage of nurses occurs when the demand for skilled nurses exceeds its supply locally or internationally. At the same time, the economic definition refers to a situation where nurses are in demand, but the financial status of a given demographic region cannot support new recruitments (Glasper, 2018). The methods used in determining the shortage of nurses include the percentage ratio of personnel to patients, the number of nurses in a given population, and the vacant positions for caregivers in the employment sector. Since nursing requires professional skills in providing medical services, shortages can cause detrimental effects in the healthcare system, which is dangerous to populations worldwide.
Therefore, the causes of nursing shortages include poor working conditions, aging populations, aging of nursing professionals, insufficient resources in nursing education and research, a rise of complex healthcare technologies, and low enrolment of nurses in institutions. New nurses’ enrolment in the career is considered the primary source of nursing scarcity (Glasper, 2018). Most young generations are reluctant to join the nursing career, which creates a shortage gap as the aging workforce needs replacements after retirement. According to reports by American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), student enrolment in nursing programs has a slow percentage increase over the years, limiting the supply of new nurses and caregivers. Additionally, nursing schools have insufficient staff and receive less funding to support more students enrolling in the program resulting in fewer graduates.
To control the rising lack of professional nurses, I would apply ANA’s action plan in empowering these experts. The ANA’s Call to Action will motivate sustaining and recruiting more workforce by meeting the nurse’s needs in the working environment while providing safe care to patients. Another effective strategy that would prevent the nursing shortage is targeting students from minority groups during recruitment, ensuring top talent professionalism and diversity in the working environment.
Reference
Glasper, A. (2018). Strategies to alleviate shortages of nurses in adult social care.British Journal of Nursing, 27(6), 334-335. Web.