Need For Change

It is evident that there a national shortage of nurses. Estimated projections show a dismal future if no attempts are made to alleviate the pressures that are driving nurses out of the profession and accommodate increasing student interest and enrollment.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) estimates the supply of nurses in America will fall 36 percent below requirements by the year 2020, and that RNs leaving the workforce will outpace those entering the profession by 2016. According to The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) survey, data from 2006-2007 showed that nursing colleges and universities denied admission to 42,866 qualified applicants due to insufficient faculty (71%), and full admission seats(74%). Additionally, a lack of funding forced the HRSA to turn away 82 percent of the applicants for the Nurse Education Loan Repayment Program (NELRP), and another 94 percent for the Nursing Scholarship Program.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Governmental Objectives:

  • Meet nursing shortage demand and fill vacant staff positions
  • Increase funding to nursing program to expand faculty, staff, and facilities
  • Accommodate the increase in nursing students of levels including bachelor, doctoral, etc.
  • Increase student loan access and availability
Political Influences:

  • Students
  • Teachers
  • Nurses
  • Hospitals
  • Health care facilities
  • Educational Institutes
  • Patients

Potential Impact for Nurses:

  • Decrease staffing strain and better job satisfaction
  • More accessible education
  • Increased experience of nurses as pursue further education
  • Better staff/patient ratio resulting in better relationship

Potential Impact for Patients:

  • Better care and outcomes
  • Increased quality of care

Potential Impact for Health Care System:

  • Ultimately decreased costs due to better patient outcomes
  • Increased standards

Scholarly Evidence:

2 comments:

Jess said...

This bill correlates strongly with ours. While it focuses more on the financial aspect (in that it will help students entering nursing programs loans) it still has the ability to help with the national nursing shortage. Anyway that we can get more students into nursing programs and degrees in nursing is a step in the right direction to fixing this national dilemma. The fact that Joe Biden proposed this bill makes me hopeful because he is currently in the national spotlight and may be able to get more support for it.

Katie Shaffer said...

This bill is imperative as the baby boomer generation ages and grows into a geriatric population. It is frightening to imagine a larger nursing shortage than the current crisis. An increase in nurses are necessary for the safety and well being of hospitalized patients as well as patients who are suffering with debilitating chronic conditions. Any effort to boost the number of nursing faculty, nursing schools, and nursing students should be recognized, welcomed, and promoted.