Nursing Shortage

Background

It is no surprise to emergency nurses that there is a significant nursing and nurse faculty shortage. Approximately 80-85% of hospitals cite a shortage and 15% report severe shortages. It is estimated that over one million nurses will be needed by the year 2010. The current shortage is believed to be more deeply imbedded due to an aging workforce, decrease in nursing school enrollment, and higher demand for nurses than the “cyclic” shortages of previous years.

Healthcare globally is feeling the pinch of the nursing shortage through loss of revenue, longer wait times, decline in quality care and in staff morale, and an increase in stress. While short term actions may temporarily fill the void, they are costly. The focus now needs to rely on long-term solutions to correct the problem. This is not just a nursing problem. It encompasses all aspects of healthcare.

Position Statements

Recommendations for Facilities

Recommendations for Schools of Nursing

Foreign Nursing Policies and Recruitment

Vital Statistics and the Nursing Shortage

Other Resources

Special thanks to Capt. Jody Dugai, RN, CEN, USA and Capt. Erika Hooper, RN, CEN, USAF-NC for the research and primary development of this web content. This project was undertaken as part of a fellowship arrangement between ENA and The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston.