The International College of Health Sciences offers career-focused programs in various healthcare sectors. With in-person and online options, job search assistance and clinical field training, the university prepares its students with the highest level of readiness for career success. In the following article, the International College of Health Sciences takes an in-depth look at this healthcare crisis and explains why nurses are needed now more than ever.

The shortage of nurses in the United States of America is no longer a projected concern; it is, unfortunately, a reality. This can be a frightening concept for a generation that shows no sign of finding the key to eternal youth and will appreciate the help of nurses down the line.

According to the information and projections communicated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the workforce of Registered Nurses is only predicted to increase by 6% in the next decade, with job openings growing much faster. The reasons for this vary from lack of job satisfaction to lack of incentive to work, which are being addressed by legislatures.

Below, the International College of Health Sciences reviews the scope of the nursing shortage, or epidemic, as it is undoubtedly turning out to be. And it doesn’t stop there – a look also at the possible reasons behind the nursing shortage and concluding with a ray of hope by understanding how to increase the available nursing staff countrywide. With so much information to cover, let’s get started!

The Scope of the Nursing Shortage

The International College of Health Sciences explains that unfortunately, the nursing shortage is, as previously stated, a grim reality. However, with such a large need for medical professionals and so many universities dedicated to teaching registered nurses, it can be difficult to grasp this fact. With that in mind, let’s go over some of the numbers that reveal the scope of this epidemic.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that more than 200,000 jobs will open for registered nurses, not just between now and 2031, but per year in that time frame. In addition, the American Journal of Medical Quality predicted that by 2030, thirty out of fifty states in the U.S. will be experiencing what is called a “significant RN shortage.”

The fact of the matter is, these predictions are already coming to pass as early as the year 2023. The lack of registered nurses in fields like anesthetists, practitioners, and even midwives is already felt across the board, reports the International College of Health Sciences.

The Reasons Behind the Crisis

As sobering as the problem may be, it is natural to wonder how this all began. In fact, if anyone hopes to resolve such issues of inadequate healthcare providers, the country will need an answer to that very question.

Below, the International College of Health Sciences takes a look at some of the possible reasons behind the nursing shortage.

• Lack of Job Satisfaction – Because inadequate staffing is already underway, currently employed RNs are inadvertently contributing to it by retiring early. This is a vicious cycle; many nurses report ending their careers untimely due to heightened stress of the exacerbated workload contributed by the current lack nurses to help offset this.
• Qualified Applications to Nursing Schools Are Being Denied – Sadly, as many as 90,000 applications that indicate plenty of willing candidates to a healthcare education are actually discarded. This is a result of the lack of available slots, resources, and professors to train new nurses.
• Higher Need for Nurses – The bottom line is, the COVID-19 pandemic added strain on healthcare workers who were already feeling the weight of a changing age demographic; more than 77 million people are aging past 65 and in need of qualified healthcare staff. This perfect storm raised a need just as the resources to aid and educate current nurses fell behind.

How to Reverse the Epidemic

The International College of Health Sciences reviews below a few possible ways to combat the shortage – there is, luckily, already hope!

• Changing State Legislature – Organizations such as AACN are already petitioning the government to promote greater financial benefits offered to the nursing workforce. This should generate an incentive for more nurses to pursue their degrees and begin working.
• Universities Are Expanding – Thanks to partnerships with one another and the support from the private sector, nursing schools are beginning to expand to accommodate more applicants.

In Conclusion

The International College of Health Sciences reviews that the healthcare crisis has become nothing short of an epidemic, with more than 200,000 job openings for Registered Nurses projected to arrive in the year 2031. The number of RNs available from 2020 to the year 2021 decreased by over 100,000, one of the largest declines in longer than recent history – even more detrimental during a worldwide pandemic.

Additional reasons behind the nursing shortage may include the change in population demographics and a lack of staff coverage raises the stress level of nurses that are already registered and working, lowering job satisfaction.

Finally, the International College of Health Sciences concludes that the efforts to change the nursing shortage include changing state legislation toward nurses and the laws that affect them, offering greater financial incentives for nurses to work. Additionally, associations like the AACN are emphasizing more efficient and ongoing educations to equip nurses and keep them on staff longer.