Help with paper!!!

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Hi - I currently a nursing student at the University of Kansas, and as part of a research paper that I am writing, I need to obtain several individual perspectives from clinical nurses with a least five years experience regarding problems the nursing profession currently faces. If you are interested, I would really appreciate your feedback on the following questions!!!

1) What is the most important problem facing nursing?

2)What do you think is the cause of this problem?

3)What can be done to remedy this problem?

Thank you so much for your response!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Well, I've got exactly 5 years and some months of experience...

I believe the biggest problem that is faced is the number of experienced nurses leaving the bedside for NP jobs, or other types of employment. High turnover in the profession makes it difficult to obtain experienced people to precept new nurses (one new nurse recently posted she was being precepted by someone with only 7 months experience!). We can churn out plenty of new grads, but something needs to be there to give them incentive to stay in the profession.

I think the cause of the problem relates to several things. Some students graduate with unrealistic expectations of the profession. So after giving it a year or two, the may choose to leave...The stress of nursing is very heavy and nurses are not always well compensated for enduring the stress. Many nurses feel that they are not well supported by their employer (and many aren't), causing them to look elsewhere. There are many other reasons...

As far a remedying the problem. Well, more realistic training for students- which is difficult to create. It can be hard for an instructor to keep up with her students and multiple patients...increasing salaries- or benefits such as excellent insurance packages could help to retain some people, though doing both of these things has not always shown an increase in retention. SO what to do, its a difficult thing.

I think I read somewhere that if all the nurses that have active licenses were actually working as nurses, the shortage would be close to eliminated....but I don't know if thats true for everywhere?

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

:balloons: Hello, BootsyD and Welcome to Allnurses.com:balloons:

Great that you found us. Stay here for up-to-date, accurate information and support.

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

Check out our Nursing Activism forum---plenty info there.

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Katie, thank you for your answers, and I plan on staying involved in all of the great information and support it looks like members receive here!

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