Nursing Shortage is NOW!

As the number of baby boomers coming of age increases, the unfortunate statistics show that the numbers of nurses to care for them will be at a significant shortage.  This nursing shortage could very potentially impact the health and well being of our senior citizens and all of us for that matter.  It is a known fact that senior citizens utilize the health care system more than the younger population and our numbers of seniors are increasing disproportionately each year.  Add in our medical advances which are helping people live longer and the country is going to be in a medical state of emergency very soon.  

Nurses themselves are already feeling the effects of the shortage.  They report that they are taking care of sicker patients, more patients, and that they are feeling the pressures of not being able to do their job the way that it was meant to be done.  Some nurses report feeling unsafe in their working environments and go on to say that some patients have expressed real anger toward  them at times because of the situation.

Nurses in the health care system today are burning out at alarming rates. Many express the desire to change careers and a lot of them do go on to change jobs. In the best of times, nursing can be very physically and mentally demanding and the ever growing shortage can only compound this. The average age range for a working hospital nurse today is from their late 40's to their early 50's. They themselves will be ready for retirement soon and what will be there for them?

The shortages isn't just limited to the registered nursing staff.  There are not enough hospital secretaries,nursing assistants, or other support staff either so one cannot expect to see help coming from those arenas. It is possible that people could see elective procedures being put off indefinitely because of the shortages. What will the care be like for those that have no choice but to be in the hospital? They have to put their faith in the medical system but might it possibly let them down?