The Nursing Shortage

By Leila M

Abstract
The nursing shortage is a major problem that exists globally. Many people are unaware of how widespread this shortage actually is. Hospitals are not able to function efficiently because of the lack of workers to perform necessary procedures and tasks that many patients are in need of. This problem has existed for many years and grows increasingly worse. It is urgent that a solution needs to be implemented to help this crisis. There are many things that contribute to this issue including the hostile working conditions which make it impossible for nurses to be able to perform to their full potential when they are not properly equipped for their job. The workforce being predominantly older has also played a major effect because the retirement rate is higher than the younger workers joining the workforce. Nurses also have an unprofessionally low salary which makes this profession extremely unappealing. By increasing education that is taught throughout nursing school, they can be equipped to tackle all these challenges and bring new people into the profession. More opportunities are also available and with more experience it enhances their quality of skill.

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The nursing shortage is one of the most frequent examples of institutional corruption. Following this theme, Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech exemplifies the great challenges of fixing the turmoil in the country that was caused by corrupt institutions. Simone Biles also offers an example of how being in an institution like this can not only deprive someone of joy and passion but also can exhaust their mental health to the point where Biles dropped out of the Olympics altogether. Focusing on this theme, the nursing sector has shown many aspects of what a corrupt institution can cause including poor working conditions, uneven age distribution, and unfair salaries. This problem has grown widespread and the numbers of struggling hospitals is only increasing. Increasing nursing education is the best possible solution because it provides nurses with advanced skills, attracts younger individuals to the profession, and offers opportunities for career advancement.

Focusing on the root causes of working conditions, age, and salary, all of these show why this issue has become so prevalent. Starting with working conditions, studies have shown that nursing students are often uninformed of the rigorous aspects of the professional reality of the job. Especially during the pandemic, the profession had been glorified to them which left many burnt out and completely unprepared. There is also a big gap in age and most of the current day nurses are in their 50s which is making this shortage worse because more nurses are retiring then entering the profession. Not only is age a big problem, but the salary does not align with the amount of time and effort put into being a nurse. This has turned people away from this role and to other professions in this area such as traveling nurses or even going further to become physicians. Therefore there is a large demand for bedside nurses that is not being fulfilled. 

Increasing nursing education is the best solution because it equips nurses with advanced skills, attracts younger workers, and it opens up opportunities for career advancement. Being a great nurse all starts with how they receive education. If they are focusing on managing skills that they will need continuously throughout their career, they have a higher chance of being successful in their work. By equipping nurses with the right skills they are less likely to be burnt out since they know how to handle upcoming challenges. Younger students who are looking for jobs will often join programs that seem the most appealing to them. If these programs are expanded to cater more to a younger audience, there will be more younger aspiring nurses willing to join. If these programs focus on the reality of being a nurse and the skills they will need, younger nurses will be more likely to survive the first few years and continue that as a career. Opening up more career opportunities can also provide the benefit for more advanced nurses and healthcare professionals to teach upcoming generations the skills that they found most helpful. 
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All this being said there are still some things that will always be a limitation regarding education. It will take a tremendous amount of time, money, and effort from both students and schools who are looking to implement this solution. However it is possible to receive this funding by forming partnerships with other colleges and organizations and this program in the end will be proven beneficial in making the profession a healthier and more appealing environment to nurses all over the world. With the help of educational institutions such as colleges, universities, and vocational schools this can reshape the profession to be one step ahead for nurses and patients.