Nursing Shortage

Introduction Did you know that there is 126, 000 nursing positions unfilled in hospitals across the country ( Jackson, 2006) and the average nurse is 46 years of age? ( Alexandra, 2006). The public needs to see that the shortage of nurses is a major issue that is only going to get worse if something is not done about it. It has been shown that since the beginning of the shortage there has been an increase in mortality rates due to a increase of poor patient care. If this nursing shortage continues it will only decrease the quality of care the public receives, increase costs, make hospital stays longer, and health care less effective and efficient. Teamwork, good communication, critical thinking, and problem solving are all things that are needed in the healthcare system but are minimized due to the nursing shortage ( Buerhaus, Donelan, Ulrich, & Norman, 2007). In this professional paper many issues will be discussed such as patient care, nursing issues, communication and teamwork, research, and effects of the shortage on nursing and on society.
Patient Care When patients come into the hospital they are well aware of the kind of care that is provided for them and how they are the main focus. They are provided with the best possible care that can be provided from all health care workers. The patients don’t know what really goes on be hide the walls of their room and what the nurse really all does, not only for the them, but everyone else. Nurses assess changes in their health and if a change is needed they make it and accommodate, catch medical errors that could safe the patient’s life, use teamwork with the healthcare team to ensure care is efficient, advocate for patients who cant speak for them selves or the doctors don’t agree with what is being
Shortage 3 said, administer many medications all at one time for many different patients and ordered by different physicians and could be incompatible with one another. Not only do nurses do this