I remember talking with a DON at my first "job." She instructed me to solve a problem; first identify who owns the problem. They will be charged with it's ultimate solution/ resolution.
Here we are in 2002. The chicken little "The sky is falling," mantra of the day is that there are not and will not be enough nurses and other selected health"care" "workers" to provide the necessary "service" to those in need of it.
People clamor crisis with the best intentions of addressing the "problem." There are committees formed to address the "problem." Yet the "problem" remains; or does it?
Who owns the problem?
A working nurse who is short staffed not provided with enough of the avaliable nurses to safely "practice?" No, they do not own the problem. It affects them but they do not own it!
Educators clamor that there will not be enough educators to teach. A seprate issue, nurse educators; in a league all by themselves I mighn't add. They claim to have some ownership but in all praticality, they do not own the problem either. They are affected by it but do not own it!
Ownership of "the nursing shortage" belongs to those who hire nurses; solely and wholely! They do not do what is necessary to attract and retain nurses.
All of the good hearted educators and nursing organizations in the world can only make the actual solution of the problem a little easier for the "employers" of nurses. They can have an impact on the problem but not solve it!
As an individual nurse you can impact the"solution of the problem" by where you work and under what conditions you will work. You certainly will not solve the problem!
Trillions are spent on health care in the US alone! Where does the money go? Who hires nurses?
The problem is clearly owned by employers. They simply continually fail to do the right things to and for the employees.
The word is out! Nurses are treated poorly and paid poorly. Why should the owners be suprised there are no people willing to do what they ask? Why should people go through the experience of achieving a nursing education for the lack of reward offered by employers?
I've grown weary reading of the woes of employers and the entities working to address "the nursing shortage." They can not be working toward my best interest. They do not own the problem. They simply make it easier for employers to continue doing business as usual especially regarding poor treatment and pay of nurses.
Please tell me how I'm wrong and individual nurses can solve the problem. Please tell me how educators can solve the problem. Please show me anyone else who can solve the problem - if , in fact, - one exists.
Please don't let me keep believing that the only "solution to the nursing shortage" is held by employers. They have proven over time they are not willing to do what is necessary to solve the problem.
