The nursing shortage is a real and pressing problem. In the United States, we are currently facing a nursing shortage of over 1 million nurses. This shortage is expected to grow to over 2 million by 2025. The nursing shortage is caused by a number of factors, including an aging population, a growing number of people with chronic diseases, and a lack of qualified nursing students. The nursing shortage has serious implications for the quality of patient care and the overall health of our nation.

The Impact of the Nursing Shortage on Patient Care

The nursing shortage has a direct impact on patient care. With fewer nurses available to care for patients, nurses are overworked and stressed. This can lead to fatigue and errors in judgement. Overworked nurses are also more likely to experience burnout, which can lead to them leaving the profession altogether. The nursing shortage also means that there are fewer RNs available to teach new nurses entering the profession, which can further compound the problem.

The Impact of the Nursing Shortage on the Economy

The nursing shortage also has an indirect impact on the economy. When hospitals are short-staffed, they have to cancel surgeries and other procedures. This leads to a loss in revenue for the hospital, as well as increased costs associated with rescheduling patients. In addition, when patients don't receive the care they need in a timely manner, their health can deteriorate, which can lead to longer hospital stays and increased costs for taxpayers.

Conclusion

The nursing shortage is a real and pressing problem that has serious implications for the quality of patient care and the overall health of our nation. Hospitals are cancelling surgeries and other procedures due to lack of staff, causing a loss in revenue. In addition, when patients don't receive the care they need in a timely manner, their health can deteriorate, which can lead to longer hospital stays and increased costs for taxpayers. It is clear that we need more nurses now more than ever before.