Resolving the nursing shortage - Essay Example

The anticipated shortage of nursing professionals is one of the most urgent issues in the health industry. Kathleen Dracup and Peter E. Morrish (2007) acknowledge the issue in citing the importance of developing education, training and professional programs that will develop that human resource capacity to meet future demands. The authors believe that there is a need to bridge the profession between new graduates and long-term nursing professionals. They point out that though there is has been a substantial increase in those pursuing nursing careers, that there is a contrast in the number of these individuals who opt to pursue long-term careers as nurses.

The author’s discussion point out to the lack of motivational support for new nursing professionals and the lack of competitive professional incentives. In such cases, many nursing graduates do not pursue the career or enrichments that are necessary to maintain and develop skills. One of the interventions proposed is in the development of effective professional and educational partnerships such as those developed by the University Health System Consortium joined with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing sponsored residence programs that allow new graduates not only a venue to practice their learning but also exposes them to the potential and rewards of the nursing profession.

Based on the results of two cohort studies on the participation of nursing graduates in the year-long residence program, participants expressed greater commitment to the nursing profession due to exposure of the program and greater satisfaction in nursing as a career. One of the best indicators of the success of the program is in increasing retention rate of resident nurses to 89% from previous turnover rates ranging from 40 to 50%. Dracup and Morrish however also recognize that instituting similar comprehensive programs can prove to be challenging particularly in cases were there are existing deficiencies in professionals, resources and expertise for the programs.

The conclusion was that such efforts that consider professional and personal development at the beginning of the nurses’ careers is an effective means of encouraging them to pursue their careers and competencies which are critical if demands of the profession are to be adequately met. Dracup and Morrish’s concerns and views are echoed in a significant number of researches. In independent studies done in Virginia and Nebraska, similar conclusions to support the development of programs that will encourage young nursing professionals in their careers have been seen as a means of mitigating workforce crises (Moon et al, 2005; Cramer et al, 2006).

They also acknowledge that residence programs are not new but that perspectives regarding their formation, implementation and evaluation should better reflect the developing concerns of the profession. This can be a means of not only reinforcing human resource programs but also of supporting the social relevance of the profession among young nurses, a reinforcement that is growing in regard as a factor in nursing commitment. There is a growing literature that professional development programs should be able to better accommodate for holistic development of nurses to include community and institutional participation among others.

The importance and urgency of the issue is one that has been universally recognized and become a major focus in the health industry, and more importantly is becoming a public concern worth addressing without delay.ReferencesCramer, Mary, Nienaber, Jill, Helget, Peg, Agrawal, Sangeeta (2006). Comparative Analysis of Urban and Rural Nursing Workforce Shortages in Nebraska Hospitals. Policy Politics Nursing Practice, 7: 248-260Dracup, Kathleen and Morris, Peter E. (2007). Nurse Residency Programs: Preparing for the Next Shift. Am. J. Crit. Care.

, July, 16: 328 - 330.Moon, Martha W., Henry, JoAnne K., Connelly, Karen and Kirsch, Phyllis (2005). Public Health Nurses for Virginia’s Future: A Collaborative Project to Increase the Number of Nursing Students Choosing a Career in Public Health Nursing. Am J Public Health, July 95: 1102 - 1105.