Five Reasons Behind the Shortage of Nurses Worldwide
Nursing is one of the booming professions in America now a day. It is estimated that by 2020 there will be the shortage of around one million nurses in United States of America and the peril of shortage of nurses will be different in 2020 than the past. In the past, whenever demand of nurses exceeded the supply, the vacuum was filled quickly. However, shortage of nurses in future will be quite different and difficult to overcome as along with various other things, requirements of becoming a nurse have also been changed. Need of unregistered nurses is decreasing phenomenally and criteria and education requirement is difficult to become a registered nurse. Like bachelor or master in nursing is required to become a registered nurse.
Reasons behind shortage of nurses:
There are multiple reasons behind the incessantly increasing shortage of nurses. Some of the reasons are given below:
Options of professions have increased significantly for women now a day. In the past, nursing would be considered something exclusively for the women; whereas now a day from flying planes to computer engineering, women are making their mark in every profession. Therefore, relatively lesser women are now interested in nursing profession.
Second reason is the retirement of baby boomer nurses. Just when not much women are interested to get into the nursing profession, 55% of today's nurses will be retired by 2020. And worst is that there is no plan of their replacement as yet.
Third reason is that nursing profession undoubtedly is one of the toughest and stressful professions out there. There are no set timings and women with family and kids find it quite difficult to carry on with sub job.
Another prevalent reason behind shortage of nurses is that nursing education now a day is too expensive. To become a registered nurse, as mentioned above, one has to be at least bachelor or master and everyone cannot afford such expensive education. However, nursing scholarship and other grants for students have made things relatively easier.
Fifth reason is that nurse shortage is not restricted to one or two countries. There has always been demand of good nurses in the developed countries which would be fulfilled by importing nurses from the underdeveloped countries. The current shortage and shortage in the future is different because it is the worldwide shortage.
How to combat this shortage:
Well, this shortage cannot be overcome over the night, as it will get worst in the coming days. Best option to combat it would be to make nursing profession as lucrative and attractive for women as possible. Women must have to reason to abandon computer sciences, engineering and other notable professions to opt for nursing.
Secondly, nursing education should not be restricted to the few countries. Good thing is that medical college in Dubai is getting famous and it could be best option for the women living in the Asian countries like Pakistan, India and Nepal.
Reasons behind shortage of nurses:
There are multiple reasons behind the incessantly increasing shortage of nurses. Some of the reasons are given below:
Options of professions have increased significantly for women now a day. In the past, nursing would be considered something exclusively for the women; whereas now a day from flying planes to computer engineering, women are making their mark in every profession. Therefore, relatively lesser women are now interested in nursing profession.
Second reason is the retirement of baby boomer nurses. Just when not much women are interested to get into the nursing profession, 55% of today's nurses will be retired by 2020. And worst is that there is no plan of their replacement as yet.
Third reason is that nursing profession undoubtedly is one of the toughest and stressful professions out there. There are no set timings and women with family and kids find it quite difficult to carry on with sub job.
Another prevalent reason behind shortage of nurses is that nursing education now a day is too expensive. To become a registered nurse, as mentioned above, one has to be at least bachelor or master and everyone cannot afford such expensive education. However, nursing scholarship and other grants for students have made things relatively easier.
Fifth reason is that nurse shortage is not restricted to one or two countries. There has always been demand of good nurses in the developed countries which would be fulfilled by importing nurses from the underdeveloped countries. The current shortage and shortage in the future is different because it is the worldwide shortage.
How to combat this shortage:
Well, this shortage cannot be overcome over the night, as it will get worst in the coming days. Best option to combat it would be to make nursing profession as lucrative and attractive for women as possible. Women must have to reason to abandon computer sciences, engineering and other notable professions to opt for nursing.
Secondly, nursing education should not be restricted to the few countries. Good thing is that medical college in Dubai is getting famous and it could be best option for the women living in the Asian countries like Pakistan, India and Nepal.
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