Along with the fact that far too many people are visiting the emergency room instead of seeing their primary physician for sore throats, earaches, colds and flus, beds in the ER are filled with those who need to be admitted to the hospital, but no beds are available. Consequently, it can be many hours before you are seen by a physician.
Why No Beds Available?
It isn't always true that there are "no beds available", but rather that they are short on nurses, and no more patients can be admitted to wards. This is something akin to having to wait at your favorite restaurant when there are empty tables but not enough servers.
Nurse to Patient Ratios
Ratios of nurses to patients dictate the number of patients a hospital ward can handle in a given day. In some states these ratios have been legislated. In others, unions have set nurse to patient ratios, and in some hospitals, the administration has been smart enough to set their own standards.
Hospitals Struggle to Fill Nursing Vacancies
There are exceptions and work conditions for nurses remain poor, and unsafe for patients. Studies have proven direct correlations between staffing of nurses and medical errors. Simply stated, hospitals struggle to fill their vacancies so that they can run at full capacity and provide safe care for the patients.
With shortages of nurses reaching critical point throughout the world, this issue is going to become worse before it becomes better.
This Nursing Shortage is Different
There have been many shortages of nurses throughout history, but this time is different. Along with an aging population with growing medical needs, nurses are aging as well. The average age of nurses in the U.S today is 49.5. The Baby Boom generation (those born from 1946-1964) is approaching retirement as the first boomers turned 60 in 2006. The 1990 U.S. recorded 77 million Baby Boomers. As this group ages and requires more medical care, the need for nurses will dramatic increase as well.
For several years in the recent past there was a significant decline in enrollment in nursing programs. Today, despite that fact that enrollment is increasing, the number of nurse educators as well as clinical facilities is maxed out in most nursing programs; meaning many qualified applicants are turned away each year.
Reducing Funds Won't Help!
Pres indent Bush has asked for a 30% reduction in funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA's) Nursing Workforce Development Programs in his proposed 2008 fiscal year budget. The American Nurses Association strongly opposes this budget proposal.
Poorer Nations Losing Too Many Nurses
The shortage of nurses is growing worldwide. Part of the problem for many poorer countries such as the Philippines and South Africa is that countries such as the U.S., Canada, and Australia have been trying to meet critical needs for nurses by encouraging nurses from these countries to emigrate. Depleting nurses in these regions will not solve the nursing shortage anywhere.
Everyone Will Be Affected
One certain factor is that sooner or later, everyone is going to be affected by the shortage of nurses.
Read more about Nurses:
Nurses are Most Honest and Ethical Profession
The Campaign For a National Nurse
