There is a significant number of events contributing to the existence of the nursing shortage, and they are primarily related to the major societal trends. First, the aging of both healthcare specialists and the population as a whole contribute to the problem. In other words, the former’s retirement is complemented by the increased need of the latter in care and receiving geriatric services, and this situation seems alarming (“Nursing shortage,” 2020). Second, this factor is accompanied by the cases of violence in the workplace, which present a serious challenge for registered nurses. These risks are especially significant for employees working in the emergency department, and the threat of emotional or physical abuse serves as a reason for young specialists’ unwillingness to apply for the jobs (Haddad et al., 2020). In addition, this field is susceptible to crises resulting from pandemics and other risks, which decrease the profession’s attractiveness for students.
In order to efficiently cope with the emerging issues in this regard, different organizations work with other entities to increase awareness of people concerning the critical situation of healthcare. For instance, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) successfully cooperates with schools, policymakers, and the media, thereby bringing the attention of the authorities to address the mentioned barriers (“Nursing shortage,” 2020). As a result, the formed strategic partnerships lead to the development of statewide initiatives, programs for supporting nursing students, promote careers, and improve the overall perceptions of this occupation (“Nursing shortage,” 2020). Thus, the profession is currently working toward a resolution of the discussed problems through enhancing the cooperation and involving more people in the activity of corresponding organizations as well as elaborating the laws.
References
Haddad, L. M., Annamaraju, P., & Toney-Butler, J. T. (2020). Nursing shortage. StatPearls.
Nursing shortage. (2020). American Association of Colleges of Nursing.