When Will the Nursing Shortage Be Over?

With the nursing shortage continuing to worsen each year, we might find ourselves wondering, "when will it end?"

Updated:  

Written by Morgan Curry, BSN, RN for Nursing CE Central

It feels like the nursing shortage has been around for a while, and COVID-19 has only exacerbated the issue. 

Now that we have made it through what is arguably one of the most difficult seasons in our entire nursing careers, we are feeling the impacts of the nursing shortage now more than ever.  

So, the question is, ‘when will the nursing shortage be over?’ 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the employment of RNs from 2019 to 2029 is projected to increase faster than any other occupation at 7%; the national average for all occupations is about 4%. 

Healthcare systems globally have been strained by the influx of patients, lack of resources, and extreme working conditions; but there is one major outlier that we cannot prevent. 

Time. No matter what we say, do, or believe, there is nothing that can stop it.

Our nursing population is aging, and more nurses are beginning to retire each year; although this is a significant problem to the industry, there are many more factors that come into play that we must address. 

In order to fully understand why the nursing shortage is increasing, let’s break this down some of the most prominent contributing factors.  

Why the Nursing Shortage is Continuing to Worsen 

  • Large Aging Populations and Workforce 

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing outlines that the average age for an RN is 50 years, which poses significant risks for the next several years. As the Baby Boomer and Generation X populations begin to retire from the workforce and potentially present health complications that require care, the nursing industry may be hit with more than they can handle. 

  • Burnout 

A 2018 JAMA Network Open cross-sectional survey determined that out 50,000 nurses, 31.5% of respondents reported leaving the profession due to burnout.  

A recent Nurse Burnout study from Nursing CE Central identified that out of over a thousand nurses, 95% of respondents claimed to be burnt-out, while 47.9% are actively searching for a less stressful position.

  • Turnover 

In the 2020 Nursing Solutions Inc. Health Care Retention Report, nurses have the highest turnover rates of all the allied healthcare professions; and it is continuing to rise. For example, the percentage of national RN turnover in 2019 was 15.9%, and 18.7% in 2020. 

When Will the Nursing Shortage Be Over? 

Rather than improving, the nursing shortage is only growing, so, unfortunately, there is no right or wrong answer to this well-deserved question.  

With increased pressures of the nursing shortage, fatigue, and job dissatisfaction, nurses will only continue to leave the profession.  

So, what can be done about this issue? 

Through the pandemic, hospital institutions along with other employers have been incorporating hazard pay as well as retention and sign-on bonuses to serve as monetary incentives. Of course, all of these are not bad options; however, money can only go so far, and it is only a piece to the entire job satisfaction puzzle. 

Nurses want to feel appreciated and respected; work environment, safety, and work-life balance are major factors that contribute to their job satisfaction.  

Nursing burnout should be addressed as the leading cause of turnover first and foremost. When this national crisis is addressed by employers and hospital institutions, only then will the shortage begin to improve.  

When managers and institutional executives address the root cause of the problem by taking the time to investigate shortcomings, it will allow them to strengthen their team, increase retention, and decrease burnout.  

Nurses, remember why you entered the nursing profession in the first place.  

Your compassion, strength, and grit for the field are unmatched and appreciated more than you know; do not lose sight of this. I know the past year has been extremely difficult for you but try your best to persevere. 

Keep your patients and your nursing philosophy at the root of your care and practice.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
22 hours ago, Leader25 said:

How to manage on a budget??,If one listens to Dave Ramsey ,you hear of many living within their means and saving money all the time.These are hard lessons that demand self discipline ,financial awareness.

In this day and age when everyone has indoor plumbing, a TV or two,cell phone,cable TV,  a car, dirt bikes, education for a career, easy access to contraception, free Libraries,  school lunches, child care tax credits,no one is barefoot ,YMCA,YMHA,CYO, Medicaid, Goodwill, night shift differential,sign on bonus,OT,....really now ,shall I go on. Put down the violin. Look at all the good around you and enjoy,life is not perfect.

I guess you don't live in the same United States I do.  Managing on a budget is only possible when there's enough money in that budget to meet basic expenses.  I'm not including dirt bikes and cable TV in this imaginary budget by the way.

There's a LOT of people that make too much for any kind of assistance including Medicaid and food stamps yet they don't make enough to pay basic necessities like housing, utilities, health care and food.

By mentioning night shift differentials, sign on bonus, OT etc. I can only assume you are referring to nurses while I wasn't limiting myself to that population only. 

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.
On 8/8/2021 at 5:52 PM, Leader25 said:

How to manage on a budget??,If one listens to Dave Ramsey ,you hear of many living within their means and saving money all the time.These are hard lessons that demand self discipline ,financial awareness.

In this day and age when everyone has indoor plumbing, a TV or two,cell phone,cable TV,  a car, dirt bikes, education for a career, easy access to contraception, free Libraries,  school lunches, child care tax credits,no one is barefoot ,YMCA,YMHA,CYO, Medicaid, Goodwill, night shift differential,sign on bonus,OT,....really now ,shall I go on. Put down the violin. Look at all the good around you and enjoy,life is not perfect.

That's the thing, not everyone has the things you mention and most of the things you mention are not luxuries, but considered essentials in order to function and get by in our society.

1. Indoor plumbing, I live in a rural area and the number of people out here that live without indoor plumbing is shocking. Urban areas have folks living without access to clean water as well, Flint, Michigan anyone? That never did get fully resolved by the way, costs too much money to fix.

2. Cell phone, they've become to embedded in our lives to not be essential, luckily there are actually a lot of options for people with low to no income to have access to a cell phone. This is a good thing, not a bad. 911 isn't just for people who listen to Dave Ramsey.

3. Everyone has a car? No, and in America that is a large problem due to lack of infrastructure in most cities and towns for public transportation that is reliable and can accommodate the type of crappy schedules that low income worker bees often work. In America, lack of car equals unemployment in most cases. It's a terrible cycle, can't get car without money, can't get money without a car.

4. Education for a career. Academia is practically as big of a business now as what healthcare is. Pell grants are bled dry by for profit schools that purposefully target people who are more desperate to change their life's circumstances and are less likely to look at the fine print of the tuition they'll be paying on for the rest of their lives. There's a LPN program where I live that is 50K same school has an RN program that's 75K, it's a national for profit college that is notorious for its "No one can fail" attitude to keep butts in the seats and money flowing. They're starting a nurse practitioner program soon...

5. Easy access to contraception- This made me actually laugh out loud. In order for people to get contraception they have to actually know what their options are when it comes to contraception and even how sex works. Sex education is heavily discouraged in most public school systems nowadays and when it is provided in many states the school can only educate on abstinence in order to prevent pregnancies and STI's. And please don't tell me you think that it is safe and appropriate for kids to be learning everything about sexuality from the internet.

6. Medicaid- So yeah, providers don't have to take Medicaid patients, it is not an uncommon story to not have access to the specialist you need within a 100 mile radius of where the patient lives. But everyone has a car, right?

7. Night shift differential- The studies have been out for years now about how night shift literally takes years off your life through the acute/chronic physical and mental diseases it puts you at risk for, so no, I don't feel bad for making 3 dollars extra an hour so that I can pay for the massive heart attack or cancer treatment I'll probably have at a young age due to years of living a nocturnal life. Sure, I chose it, but we can't all work day shift somebody has to take care of the patients at night.

8. Sign on bonuses- This is the danger of thinking that Dave Ramsey's financial advice is actually the best. See, sign on bonuses are a lousy deal for employees, payments are spread in installments, still taxed, and come with a contract which typically gets broken because places that offer sign on bonuses frequently don't have the best reputation. Now retention bonuses, that's a much better deal for the employee and probably the employer because they wouldn't have to churn through as many new hires if they actually put effort into retaining employees.

 

People aren't expecting life to be perfect, but the Puritan expectation that suffering is "good for the soul" and the American myth that if people just worked harder their circumstances would change are hard to swallow when you're so far down in the mud that sheer mathematical probability won't even allow for you to raise your head. People do experience that in this country. Women, children, veterans, elders, mentally ill, substance users, a diverse group of people live in poverty and are low income in this country and the pandemic has only made this worse. 

Let them eat cake?

6
Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 8/8/2021 at 5:52 PM, Leader25 said:

How to manage on a budget??,If one listens to Dave Ramsey ,you hear of many living within their means and saving money all the time.These are hard lessons that demand self discipline ,financial awareness.

In this day and age when everyone has indoor plumbing, a TV or two,cell phone,cable TV,  a car, dirt bikes, education for a career, easy access to contraception, free Libraries,  school lunches, child care tax credits,no one is barefoot ,YMCA,YMHA,CYO, Medicaid, Goodwill, night shift differential,sign on bonus,OT,....really now ,shall I go on. Put down the violin. Look at all the good around you and enjoy,life is not perfect.

I assure you not everyone has indoor plumbing, cellphones, or any/all the other things you stated - at least not where I live.  I live in a rural area. We can't get cable, high speed internet, reliable cell service, pizza delivery or anything along those lines. We have satellite for tv, dial up for internet and cellphones that may or may not work depending on the weather or where we happened to be standing in our house and we have only one provider we can obtain service through because of location.

There are many people who live in and around the county we do that do not have these services or cars, or plumbing or some of the other things you mentioned. While there are services in the neighboring county to assist those in need in this area those services have been scaled way back due to covid and some completely stopped.

Dave Ramsey, while he does have some good advice, also made his fortune after he himself filed bankruptcy which he seems to gloss over. Suse Orman is another financial wizard who gives good advice but the fact remains much of the advice these two give is aimed at people with high level incomes who can invest and wait on returns for their money.

It's easy to tell people to live within their means but when the cost of everything has skyrocketed while incomes remain the same doesn't work because the boundaries of the means have changed.  I assure you, those struggling to make ends meet are very self aware of finances and being self disciplined.

Telling someone who can't afford their medications or has to decide between eating for the week or paying their light bill to "Look at all the good around you and enjoy,life is not perfect." is...clueless. 

 

 

 

4
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in school nurse.
1 hour ago, TheMoonisMyLantern said:

That's the thing, not everyone has the things you mention and most of the things you mention are not luxuries, but considered essentials in order to function and get by in our society.

1. Indoor plumbing, I live in a rural area and the number of people out here that live without indoor plumbing is shocking. Urban areas have folks living without access to clean water as well, Flint, Michigan anyone? That never did get fully resolved by the way, costs too much money to fix.

2. Cell phone, they've become to embedded in our lives to not be essential, luckily there are actually a lot of options for people with low to no income to have access to a cell phone. This is a good thing, not a bad. 911 isn't just for people who listen to Dave Ramsey.

3. Everyone has a car? No, and in America that is a large problem due to lack of infrastructure in most cities and towns for public transportation that is reliable and can accommodate the type of crappy schedules that low income worker bees often work. In America, lack of car equals unemployment in most cases. It's a terrible cycle, can't get car without money, can't get money without a car.

4. Education for a career. Academia is practically as big of a business now as what healthcare is. Pell grants are bled dry by for profit schools that purposefully target people who are more desperate to change their life's circumstances and are less likely to look at the fine print of the tuition they'll be paying on for the rest of their lives. There's a LPN program where I live that is 50K same school has an RN program that's 75K, it's a national for profit college that is notorious for its "No one can fail" attitude to keep butts in the seats and money flowing. They're starting a nurse practitioner program soon...

5. Easy access to contraception- This made me actually laugh out loud. In order for people to get contraception they have to actually know what their options are when it comes to contraception and even how sex works. Sex education is heavily discouraged in most public school systems nowadays and when it is provided in many states the school can only educate on abstinence in order to prevent pregnancies and STI's. And please don't tell me you think that it is safe and appropriate for kids to be learning everything about sexuality from the internet.

6. Medicaid- So yeah, providers don't have to take Medicaid patients, it is not an uncommon story to not have access to the specialist you need within a 100 mile radius of where the patient lives. But everyone has a car, right?

7. Night shift differential- The studies have been out for years now about how night shift literally takes years off your life through the acute/chronic physical and mental diseases it puts you at risk for, so no, I don't feel bad for making 3 dollars extra an hour so that I can pay for the massive heart attack or cancer treatment I'll probably have at a young age due to years of living a nocturnal life. Sure, I chose it, but we can't all work day shift somebody has to take care of the patients at night.

8. Sign on bonuses- This is the danger of thinking that Dave Ramsey's financial advice is actually the best. See, sign on bonuses are a lousy deal for employees, payments are spread in installments, still taxed, and come with a contract which typically gets broken because places that offer sign on bonuses frequently don't have the best reputation. Now retention bonuses, that's a much better deal for the employee and probably the employer because they wouldn't have to churn through as many new hires if they actually put effort into retaining employees.

 

People aren't expecting life to be perfect, but the Puritan expectation that suffering is "good for the soul" and the American myth that if people just worked harder their circumstances would change are hard to swallow when you're so far down in the mud that sheer mathematical probability won't even allow for you to raise your head. People do experience that in this country. Women, children, veterans, elders, mentally ill, substance users, a diverse group of people live in poverty and are low income in this country and the pandemic has only made this worse. 

Let them eat cake?

When you refute something, it is REFUTED! ?

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Customer service.
On 8/2/2021 at 9:31 PM, Kooky Korky said:

You will likely be fired.  The employer will use travelers if they can get them.  And there seems to always be plenty of scabs willing to step in and take our jobs. 

Normally I think that strikes and unions are essential to get better treatment for nurses.  Right now, during the pandemic, I pause and am hesitant to cheer too loudly for striking.

The main issue, IMO, is that most nurses are not willing to ever speak up to management about what changes they need.   They always want someone else to do that.

From early on, people who are noisy aren't the most favorites. The noisy ones are often to be the threats. 

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
On 8/8/2021 at 2:52 PM, Leader25 said:

How to manage on a budget??,If one listens to Dave Ramsey ,you hear of many living within their means and saving money all the time.These are hard lessons that demand self discipline ,financial awareness.

In this day and age when everyone has indoor plumbing, a TV or two,cell phone,cable TV,  a car, dirt bikes, education for a career, easy access to contraception, free Libraries,  school lunches, child care tax credits,no one is barefoot ,YMCA,YMHA,CYO, Medicaid, Goodwill, night shift differential,sign on bonus,OT,....really now ,shall I go on. Put down the violin. Look at all the good around you and enjoy,life is not perfect.

Well I am glad it's so good for you. And I can't stomach a financial guy who himself admittedly filed bankruptcy (and we paid the cost) and pushes Christian religion down my throat.

Let them eat cake! Right? Life is good! Sorry that is sarcastic, but it's how I feel.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neurosciences, stepdown, acute rehab, LTC.

I don't think just remembering why you got into this profession and persevering makes up for everything we have endured and continue to endure with no end in sight. I think nurses should just leave if they are unhappy. It's not worth sacrificing our well- being and not our faults the profession got to this point. 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in "Wound care - geriatric care.
1 hour ago, anewsns said:

I don't think just remembering why you got into this profession and persevering makes up for everything we have endured and continue to endure with no end in sight. I think nurses should just leave if they are unhappy. It's not worth sacrificing our well- being and not our faults the profession got to this point. 

Valid point. But is the money that keep us coming back to another session of abuse, and than another and another. Abuse from other nurses, abuse from management and it goes on and on...but the money and those annoying bills we have to pay...that keep us coming back for more. Soon we learn how to navigate this struggle and endure, find a balance and ignore everything like in that song "Private dancer" Life is cruel at times...

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neurosciences, stepdown, acute rehab, LTC.
31 minutes ago, Leonardo Del Toro said:

Valid point. But is the money that keep us coming back to another session of abuse, and than another and another. Abuse from other nurses, abuse from management and it goes on and on...but the money and those annoying bills we have to pay...that keep us coming back for more. Soon we learn how to navigate this struggle and endure, find a balance and ignore everything like in that song "Private dancer" Life is cruel at times...

True true. For many its not as easy as just walking away. In fact my post may have sounded a little entitled. Some regions don't have tons of other good options. It is true that if you NEED to stay its important to find a way to persevere and find happiness in what you have. 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
55 minutes ago, Leonardo Del Toro said:

Valid point. But is the money that keep us coming back to another session of abuse, and than another and another. Abuse from other nurses, abuse from management and it goes on and on...but the money and those annoying bills we have to pay...that keep us coming back for more. Soon we learn how to navigate this struggle and endure, find a balance and ignore everything like in that song "Private dancer" Life is cruel at times...

If you are outgoing, getting a real estate license might be an option.  All you need is some basic training by a community tech college and I believe you pass an exam and you can start selling.  I've even seen a large, local real estate company offering self study and listen on the go classes.  Most importantly no fancy, overpriced degrees are needed.  I've known many people who do it and some are quite successful financially.  It might be a risk worth taking!

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in "Wound care - geriatric care.
4 hours ago, brandy1017 said:

If you are outgoing, getting a real estate license might be an option.  All you need is some basic training by a community tech college and I believe you pass an exam and you can start selling.  I've even seen a large, local real estate company offering self study and listen on the go classes.  Most importantly no fancy, overpriced degrees are needed.  I've known many people who do it and some are quite successful financially.  It might be a risk worth taking!

I'm about 2 years till retirement! Yes, realstate sound like a good idea. I have another business on the side already. Jewelry making that is growing, I just need to put more time into it. 

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health.
On 7/27/2021 at 8:07 AM, hppygr8ful said:

There is no nursing shortage - just a glance at how many new nurses can't get hired is proof of that!

Hppy 

CA or the small handful of other places that may be true isn't representative of most of the country. So no, that isn't proof of anything. 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment