Essay/500-words or less: Shortage Y's

[Sleepyeyes]

In 500 words or less:

(a) If you agree there is a shortage of bedside nurses, list the reasons why.

(b)Or refute the need, citing reasons.

© Sum up by projecting future bedside nursing needs and whether you believe that the goal is achievable or even desirable.

[OC_An Khe]

To over simply a complex problem. Most Americans don't see or recognize the true economic value of the Nursing Profession. They still for the most part consider us servants.

A lot of todays problems can be traced to the 1930's. Thats when Nurses became predominately employees of hospitals instead of independent practicioners. Nursing then became a cost center to be controlled as opposed a center of economic value. This view has be ingrained in hospital administrators thought processes for generations.

In the Depression Nurses traded employment and current income for the Indepence of the profession and as a result ultimately control of the profession passed away from nurses. Hospitals at one time employed/ controlled over 80% of all nursing employment in the country. This trend has been reversed, it's now less than 60%, and hospitals now have to compete with many areas for Nursing talent. Including a growing return to independent practicioners and Nursing regaining more control of its own profession.

They will fight to keep Nursing from controlling its own profession. It is why UAP, med techs, institutional liscencing, anti-union positions, etc. are continually being pushed by hospitals and insurers.

The perception of economic value, and who controls this value will ultimately determine the Nursing Professions fate.

[lynnintn]

I have been hearing "nursing shortage" since I started college in 1982. What has been done about the problem? In my opinion, absolutely NOTHING. How many more studies do we need to show that nursing care directly impacts patient outcomes? In my opinion, nurses have grumbled and complained to each other about poor working conditions, unsafe asignments and low pay for years, but what have we done to change our situation? Until nurses unite as one, and present the greedy providers with some real bargaining power, nothing will ever change.