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Peter I. Buerhaus, Douglas O. Staiger, and David I. Auerbach, Trends: New Signs Of A Strengthening U.S. Nurse Labor Market?, Health Affairs Web Exclusive, November 17, 2004 [Abstract] [PDF] [HTML Version] [Reprints & Permissions]

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Comment On Nurse Staffing And Shortages

Kyung Suk Eun   ( 23 November 2004 )

Re: Comment On Nurse Staffing And Shortages

Gerry C. Hurd   ( 16 December 2004 )

The Silent Voice: A Factor That Contributes To The Nursing Shortage

Carol Dennis   ( 12 January 2005 )

Re: Comment On Nurse Staffing And Shortages

Patricia Sumner   ( 28 March 2005 )

12 Hour Shifts Limit Older Nurses From Re-entering Hospital Nursing

Faith L. DeViney   ( 9 March 2007 )

Comment On Nurse Staffing And Shortages 23 November 2004
Kyung Suk Eun, MSN Student Lehman College, CUNY Send comment to journal: Re: Comment On Nurse Staffing And Shortages kseunus{at}yahoo.co.kr Kyung Suk Eun	This article is very impressive. I live in New York City, and we still have a nursing shortage in our health care institutions. I've seen an influx of nursing students into the nursing schools. But I've heard that the nursing programs are too intense, so only 50 percent of students graduate each year. At work, we don't see any improvement. I agree with the authors' finding that "the evidence suggests that the current nurse shortage has not been eliminated." Perhaps one reason is that burnout working conditions have contributed to the shortage. Ineffective nursing leadership is another reason that staff nurses suffer at work. Ineffective communication between nursing managers and staff nurses has many negative effects. I believe that the most important aspect of nursing is caring. In the past, many young girls entered nursing schools not for money. The majority wanted to follow in Florence Nightingale's footsteps. Today, however, many young and middle-aged people are entering nursing school because they can make a good income. I have seen some fresh graduates starting and leaving their jobs within one year. Some of them said that they wanted to go back to school for better opportunities. If these people are coming and going away right after finishing orientation, who will stay at the bedside nursing? Almost three decades ago, one of my German colleagues used to say, "Money isn't everything." He was a nurse, and he worked until he retired. The older, expert nuses should support young graduates by providing good preceptor programs. Thus, they can stay committed to the profession. I think that young graduates should have opportunities to grow. As Buerhaus and colleagues mentioned in their article, the critically ill patients will benefit from their scientific body of knowledge. I still strongly believe that most foreign-born nurses chose the profession because they wanted to nurture sick people. In general, nurses must be aware of patients' cultural/ethnic backgrounds. Moreover, to solve the problems in the U.S. nurse labor market, we must consider the multicultural and racial/ethnic aspects of nursing. Nursing programs must actively recruit high schoolers for health care opportunities. In addition, there shouldn't be any disparities by gender; in the twenty-first century, we need more male nurses. During the last three decades, technology has advanced dramatically. To bridge the age and knowledge gap, we need better collaboration within the health care team.
Re: Comment On Nurse Staffing And Shortages 16 December 2004
Gerry C. Hurd, Registered Nurse Specialist Adult Services, State of Florida Send comment to journal: Re: Re: Comment On Nurse Staffing And Shortages gaghurd{at}comcast.net Gerry C. Hurd	I agree with many aspects of Kyung Suk Eun's comments. I have been actively involved in nursing and nursing education over the past 30 years and have witnessed a dramatic decline in the current graduate nurse in all areas of the profession. I review medical records and interview nursing staff on a regular basis, and, bottom line, it is apparent that nursing students are not receiving adequate clinical experience or practical application of nursing skills during their generic nursing programs. Nursing educators have not had the practical "experience" as they progress thru the education system and are unable to provide effective nursing leadership to their students. Graduates are leaving as they determine the liability involved by not receiving the "hands on" experience that is needed to deal with the complex issues on an hourly basis in all settings of the health care environment. Nursing needs to return to the "basics" of promoting the need for a "caring environment" as opposed to financial gains in the profession.
The Silent Voice: A Factor That Contributes To The Nursing Shortage 12 January 2005
Carol Dennis, RN/LPN Presently Unemployed Send comment to journal: Re: The Silent Voice: A Factor That Contributes To The Nursing Shortage dcspen2{at}yahoo.com Carol Dennis	As a nurse, I follow the various issues of nurses, but most of all I wait for my chance to get a work as a nurse. I pay a attention to the nursing topic, regarding the shortage of nurses. What I am about to say, I consider as a factor in the shortage. First, a profile about myself. I came legally to the U.S. from Jamaica at age 19, 11 years ago, on a student visa. Since then it has expired. Now, at age 31, graduated from nursing school, a mother of three (ages 11, 8, and 1, all American citizens), I have no job because I am a undocumented nurse. With great aspiration for nursing and a hope to better myself, I started to attend college to become a nurse in 1996. Through difficult times and financial problems, I braced myself for success. With great pride for nursing, I graduted in 2002. I then proceeded to take my state boards and passed both the RN and LPN. Unfortunately, New York State denies me my license, since I was undocumented, stating that because of the Illegal Immigration Act of 1996, states were prohibited from isssuing licenses to undocumented aliens. In 2002 I filee for sponsorhip through a lawyer using the receipt from the the State of NY, which says I passed my boards. Regardless of that, I am still not able to adjust my status yet or receive a work authorization. I have to wait for a change in immigration law. Hence, I consider myself a citizen (not literally), but I have been here for 11 years with three children who know this as their home. It is my home, too. What I want to draw to one's attention is the silence of many nurses here, undocumented and not working as a nurse. I am only one voice, but a well-known immigration lawyer stated on the Caribbean Radio Station that he has over 900 undocumented nurses filing for sponsorship. Imagine their contribution to the nursing profession. We are educated here in the U.S. I am a good citizen, who believes in good morals. I love taking care of people. I worked as a home health aide for two and a half years and loved it. These are the unspoken voices of nurses, and I want to let someone know that we are still here and willing to continue our life-long dream as nurses, even though we are not practicing now. I believe this is one factor that contributes to the nursing shortage: Nurses who are qualified, undocumented, and not given the chance to work.
Re: Comment On Nurse Staffing And Shortages 28 March 2005
Patricia Sumner, RN Recruiter RN, BSN, Retired Send comment to journal: Re: Re: Comment On Nurse Staffing And Shortages zoechloe604{at}cs.com Patricia Sumner	I continuously see comments about the nursing shortage, but solutions are not forthcoming. Those of us who might offer solutions are not heard. I have worked as an NA, LPN, and lastly RN BSN. The education of the nurse has not really changed as much as the needs of the patient have changed. Life is much more complicated, the people are much more diverse, and not enough time is spent on these critical issues. Therefore, nurses leave the classroom unprepared to face the reality of what nursing is really all about. Once they hit the floor running, their primary concern is to not make an error, not to tell if they do, and how much overtime can they make before they leave this job. The idealism is gone, along with the compassion and caring. Many of us who are retired could be put to good use as mentors; we are and will always be nurses. Every graduate nurse needs nurturing. They need to be taught to care. I know this will probably revert back to the old controversy of whether nurturing and caring can be taught. The answer is a resounding yes. But the naysayers have to get out of the way and allow those of us who are not burned out and still feel a deep passion for the profession to lead the way. Surely I am not the only one who feels this way. Many of my friends and I feel ashamed when we hear our family and friends relate to us about the lack of caring exhibited by the nurses they encountered during a hospital stay or doctor's office or clinic visit. Nurse are the only ones who can relieve the shortage. Isn't it time to try something new?
12 Hour Shifts Limit Older Nurses From Re-entering Hospital Nursing 9 March 2007
Faith L. DeViney, RN/BSN Send comment to journal: Re: 12 Hour Shifts Limit Older Nurses From Re-entering Hospital Nursing deviney123{at}aol.com Faith L. DeViney	I recently read your article which analyzed the RN job market. You stated that increased unemployment rates and improved RN wages have stimulated the older nurse to re-enter hospital nursing. You did not address the fact that many older RNs (myself included) would like to return to hospital nursing, but the physical demands of 12-hour shifts are a BIG deterrent. Very few hospital still offer 8 hour shifts, while hospitals have found it more convenient to staff for 2 versus 3 shifts per day.