Could Obamacare cause a shortage in nursing again

SeaH20RN, BSN · Sep 2, 2013

good question.

allnurses Guide · Sep 2, 2013

We shall see how much of an impact it has on actual practice.

I can say one thing with absolute surety: hospitals, IPAs, healthcare systems, etc will use it as an excuse to cut staff and increase profits. Anything bad in healthcare will be the direct sequelae of healthcare reform.

Editorial Team / Admin · Sep 2, 2013

We shall see how much of an impact it has on actual practice.
I can say one thing with absolute surety: hospitals, IPAs, healthcare systems, etc will use it as an excuse to cut staff and increase profits. Anything bad in healthcare will be the direct sequelae of healthcare reform.

It's already happening in my area, not just nurses but jobs in general where layoffs are being blamed on PPACA.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2013

We shall see how much of an impact it has on actual practice.
I can say one thing with absolute surety: hospitals, IPAs, healthcare systems, etc will use it as an excuse to cut staff and increase profits. Anything bad in healthcare will be the direct sequelae of healthcare reform.

I agree.....

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Sep 2, 2013

You can ask (and have asked) for opinions about what people believe will happen, but you know what they say about opinions and @$$#*!&$-- everybody has one, and a lot of them stink. :)

Short answer: We will have to wait to find out. That means that whatever the initial effects may be, it will not likely always be like that, and a certain amount of adjustment will occur over a certain amount of time-- experience suggests that is exactly what will happen.

But as to a more precise answer your question:

there can be theories

there can be opinions

there can be speculation, and

there can certainly be bloviation

... and we will have to be patient to find out.

RescueNinja123 · Sep 2, 2013

I'm surprised more nurses aren't contemplating this knowing that their jobs could be on line.

allnurses Guide · Sep 2, 2013

I'm surprised more nurses aren't contemplating this knowing that their jobs could be on line.

Nurses will have a continuation of an expanded role in the evolving healthcare system.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Sep 2, 2013

Common sense dictates : more consumers ..covered under government MANDATED health care.

equals... we need a boatload more of nurses.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Sep 2, 2013

Common sense dictates : more consumers ..covered under government MANDATED health care.
equals... we need a boatload more of nurses.

I hope this line of common sense will be applied. :yes:

roser13, ASN, RN · Sep 3, 2013

I would really like to know how you believe Obama care will affect the medical field and be honest. I would expect that it would create more jobs but the work would be very tiring. There would be no 3/12 but 4/12 or 3/15 with rooming/bedding at hospital.

Very interested in how you came to that conclusion?

I have not read the ACA in its entirety and so cannot intelligently comment. However, even with my limited knowledge, I can see that the majority of the complaints about the so-called "Obamacare" are simply BS. Most of the issues I've seen discussed were already in effect due to insurance company dictates or Medicaid/Medicaid requirements long before the ACA was enacted.

However, I have heard from some very happy folks with pre-existing conditions who will now be able to purchase medical insurance for the for the first time in years. And I was happy to welcome my masters-student daughter back onto our health insurance plan.

My husband has a rare hereditary disease that is very expensive to treat (> $100,000 annually). We have lived for years in fear of reaching our insurance policy's lifetime cap. Thanks to the ACA, that cap no longer exists.

roser13, ASN, RN · Sep 3, 2013

Contemplate what?

As has been said, no one will really know the full impact until all aspects are rolled out.

I'm surprised more nurses aren't contemplating this knowing that their jobs could be on line.