Political Quotes

“we are in the midst of a nursing workforce shortage. Not only are fewer people entering and staying in the nursing profession, but we are losing nurses at a time of growing need. Today, nurses are needed in a greater number of settings, such as nursing homes, extended care facilities, community and public health settings, nursing education, and ambulatory care settings. Nationally, health care providers, ranging from hospitals and nursing homes to home health agencies and public health departments are struggling to find qualified nurses to provide safe, efficient quality care for their patients. Though we have faced nursing shortages in the past, this shortage is particularly troublesome because it reflects two trends that are occurring simultaneously: (1) a shortage of people entering the profession and (2) the retirement of nurses who have been working in the profession for many years. Over the past 5 years, enrollment in entry-level nursing programs has declined by 20%, mirroring the declining awareness of the nursing profession among high school graduates. Consequently, nurses under the age of 30 represent only 10% of the current workforce; and by 2010, 40% of the nursing workforce will be over the age of 50 and nearing retirement. If these trends are not reversed, we stand to lost vast numbers of nurses at the vert time that they will be needed to care for the millions of baby boomers reach retirement age.”