Re: Addressing the Nursing Shortage Originally Posted by marachne 
Couple of problems w/your argument: The nursing shortage is not just because nursing programs had scaled back nurses leaving the field -- there's also that good old "demographic imperative:" The number of people over the age of 65 is increasing by 2.3% annually. More people are older, frailer, & living longer in poorer health. Over 1/3 of all health care dollars are spent on older adults. No matter what else happens, there will be more people who need care -- in lots of different settings (particularly when you compare that 2.3% annual increase with the 0.8% annually of individuals who would be able to provide family caregiving.
Also, I think you can't ignore the fact that unions have had a role in helping improve wages (as well as issues like staffing ratios) for nurses. Particularly unions like CNOC.
I agree that the shortage is not because of any one thing, but perhaps in light of the population increases you mentioned nurses ought to treat each other better. When we respect each other in the workplace it becomes a win-win situation: nurses are not as likely to leave, turn over decreases, and the constant training of new hires decreases which leads to a tighter more cohesive unit which in turn also decreases turnover. Of course the reverse is true: a nurse comes into an environment where a shortage exists, is subjected to lateral violence and consequently leaves. Then that unit must hire another employee who is not able to pull their share until they are trained. In the meantime everyone is working harder and job satisfaction decreases (which contributes to lateral violence) which makes turnover more likely, etc.
I would also agree that unions have been factorial in wage increases (where unions exist), but even unions need leverage and part of that leverage is the personnel shortage. There is no getting around the basic law of supply and demand.
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