Nursing Shortage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Nursing Shortage - Essay ExampleThe shortage is everyones problem and the solution will bespeak to come from the federal government, the states, hospitals, professional organizations, and local medical examination institutions.The care for shortage is a national crisis and every solution will need to have the support of the federal government. The Nurse Reinvestment Act of 2002 appropriated funds to incite in the recruitment and belongings of nurses at all levels, but has seen budget cuts in recent years. The line expires in 2007 and the Congress should reauthorize the bill and increase the funding from $150 million in 2007 to a minimal of $200 million in 2008. This is the level that had been recommended by the Nursing Organizations Alliance and many other members of the breast feeding community (Beu 1063). Known as Title VIII, it funds nursing grants, education, retention grants, loan repayment, scholarship programs, might loans, and diversity grants. An expansion of these p rograms is a necessary foundation for increasing the supply of qualified nurses.In addition to increasing the funding for Title VIII, the federal government also needs to make a legislated trueness to enhancing the educational infrastructure. In 2005, nearly 150,000 qualified nursing school appli fecal matterts were turned away because there were as well as few places to train them (Cooper and Aiken 68S). This was due partly to a lack of faculty, but was also a leave alone of a lack of facilities. This extends from the classroom into the clinical setting. Attracting new student nurses through scholarships and loan repayment programs can only be productive if they have quality programs to enter.The federal government should also set a policy on limiting immigrant nurses. Though there is a substantial pool of qualified nurses in developing countries, it may be counter-productive for the US to depend on this international resource. The US should pursue zygomorphous agreements with countries that have served as a major source of nurses. It is in the international ethical interest that the US does not deplete the nursing supply in the developing nations and leave them in a medical crisis. These agreements would also protect our nations supply of nurses as the world becomes more mobile. Buchan warns us that though the US is soon the premier market for working nurses. ... I think you will see some more nurses paltry from your country to others, perhaps for reasons other than purely financial (23S). By cooperating to keep the source countries at a healthy level, we can assure that this international resource will not run out.The State rightWhile the federal government can stimulate the supply of nurses, it is up to the states and the institution of nursing to stay on them. A survey by Lynn and Redman in 2006 reported that the two most important factors for nursing retention was an increase in pay and a climate of retention in health care facilities (685). The impalpable climate that the nurses spoke of included team work, decreased workload, communications, and being a part of the staffing decision process. A policy of employee empowerment would reduce psychological burnout. Women who have traditionally made up the bulk of the nursing staff have been presented with opportunities in competing career areas. Hospitals and medical institutions need to reevaluate pay scales and working