Health Conundrum
Healthcare Financing and Nursing
Healthcare is one of the most contentious subjects in the United States today, with the financing of the healthcare system the specific issue of concern in legal, ethical, and pragmatic spheres. The debate surrounding this industry has impacted all areas of the healthcare industry, including the nursing profession, in a variety of complex ways that are both direct and indirect. Rising healthcare costs without a rising ability to pay has created a strain on many medical institutions, and a rising demand for are with the rapidly aging population of the United States (that is, with a much larger older generation(s) in the country, the overall demographic of the nation is shifting quickly towards more elderly and care-intensive individuals) has not been adequately met with a rising provision of services (Kovner et al. 2011). The following paragraphs will explore several implications of this situation on the profession and practice...
2011). Larger healthcare institutions and organizations are able to take advantage of certain economies of scale, reducing overall operating costs and also becoming better able to dictate labor wages and practices (to a limited degree) by reducing competition in specific regions and in the industry overall (Celverely et al. 2011). What this means for many practiing nurses is fewer option in regards to job flexibility or placement, despite the fact that nursing remains in high demand under-served by the current available supply (Mason et al. 2007).
The changing dynamics of nursing demand and supply are also creating complicating factors for experienced nurses in terms of job…
