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Today, nurses are working in professions outside nursing, and more are retiring. Many complain about long hours, lack of input, and their unmet need for flexible hours.

A predicted shortage of nurses may turn out to be even worse than expected according to a recent survey by the Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. It found that one of five nurses plan to leave the profession within five years because of unsatisfactory working conditions. Of the nurses who said they plan to leave, 75% said they could be persuaded to stay if improvements were made, including better staffing levels, more flexible schedules, and higher salaries.

Fewer nurses are entering the work force because of other opportunities. In some areas, the shortage is so profound, hospitals have been forced to close units and cancel surgeries because there were not adequate numbers of nursing personnel. Nurses are growing older - the average age is now 44. Of the 2,2 million registered nurses in the country, less than 10 percent are under the age of 30. About 72% of RNs are married and may reduce working hours if the spouse has employment security. Studies show that when nurses reach their 50s, they start reducing their work hours.

With the population growing at about 1% a year, the overall demand for health care will increase. As the population ages and older people live longer, they acquire chronic illnesses and need more care. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 450,000 additional registered nurses will be needed to fill the present demand through the year 2008. The shortage is hitting at a particularly bad time. The public, policy makers, and the profession must examine long-term workforce planning.

Salary is not the reason people become nurses. It is primarily the joy of being able to practice good patient care. We need to bring back the joy so that dedicated people will be interested in becoming nurses. The reward is different from anything else you can do. (Karon White Gibson, Nurses on Our Own)

An increasing number of procedures are being done outside the hospital setting , leading to an industry that will rapidly change and evolve. Ambulatory surgical centers, community clinics, eye surgery centers, home health, all will need specially trained nurses.

As a health care consumer, what can you do? Remember that society values nursing. The public associates professional nurses with protecting their interests. In recent studies, the relationship of nursing to patient-care quality is evident. As a consumer, take quality seriously and ask questions related to your care.

Encourage members of your family to consider nursing career opportunities. Visit with your lawmakers about incentives for nursing education, quality care issues, and your concerns for you own health care. It is vital to take action now to address the emerging nurse shortage to protect the health and well-being of all consumers.


	Will I Have a Nurse? by Carolyn Carter, RN, MN
	Today, nurses are working in professions outside nursing, and more are retiring. Many complain about long hours, lack of input, and their unmet need for flexible hours. A predicted shortage of nurses may turn out to be even worse than expected according to a recent survey by the Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. It found that one of five nurses plan to leave the profession within five years because of unsatisfactory working conditions. Of the nurses who said they plan to leave, 75% said they could be persuaded to stay if improvements were made, including better staffing levels, more flexible schedules, and higher salaries. Fewer nurses are entering the work force because of other opportunities. In some areas, the shortage is so profound, hospitals have been forced to close units and cancel surgeries because there were not adequate numbers of nursing personnel. Nurses are growing older - the average age is now 44. Of the 2,2 million registered nurses in the country, less than 10 percent are under the age of 30. About 72% of RNs are married and may reduce working hours if the spouse has employment security. Studies show that when nurses reach their 50s, they start reducing their work hours. With the population growing at about 1% a year, the overall demand for health care will increase. As the population ages and older people live longer, they acquire chronic illnesses and need more care. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 450,000 additional registered nurses will be needed to fill the present demand through the year 2008. The shortage is hitting at a particularly bad time. The public, policy makers, and the profession must examine long-term workforce planning. Salary is not the reason people become nurses. It is primarily the joy of being able to practice good patient care. We need to bring back the joy so that dedicated people will be interested in becoming nurses. The reward is different from anything else you can do. (Karon White Gibson, Nurses on Our Own) An increasing number of procedures are being done outside the hospital setting , leading to an industry that will rapidly change and evolve. Ambulatory surgical centers, community clinics, eye surgery centers, home health, all will need specially trained nurses. As a health care consumer, what can you do? Remember that society values nursing. The public associates professional nurses with protecting their interests. In recent studies, the relationship of nursing to patient-care quality is evident. As a consumer, take quality seriously and ask questions related to your care. Encourage members of your family to consider nursing career opportunities. Visit with your lawmakers about incentives for nursing education, quality care issues, and your concerns for you own health care. It is vital to take action now to address the emerging nurse shortage to protect the health and well-being of all consumers. Back Top Next Site Map
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