This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the nursing profession, beginning with a formal definition of the nurse's role and advocacy responsibilities. It then analyzes the current U.S. nursing shortage, which has left over 126,000 hospital positions unfilled, identifying key causes such as an aging nursing workforce, declining interest among younger generations, lower wages, and poor working conditions. The paper outlines proposed solutions including scholarships, community college programs, mandatory overtime prohibitions, and staffing ratio regulations. Finally, it surveys the historical development and contemporary status of nursing in Australia, highlighting educational advancement and the ongoing expansion of the nurse's professional role.
The nursing profession is among the oldest in history. Currently, there is much debate surrounding the profession because of the growing need for trained nurses. In recent years, the nursing shortage has become a major problem for the medical profession, resulting in poor patient care and slower patient recovery. The purpose of this discussion is to provide an in-depth examination of the nursing profession. We will discuss the current state of the nursing profession, including the causes of the shortage and proposed solutions. We will also explore the status of the nursing profession in Australia. Let us begin by providing a comprehensive definition of what it means to be a nurse.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, a nurse is defined as "a person trained to care for the sick or disabled under the supervision of a physician" (American Heritage Dictionary, 1982). The Journal of the Association of Preoperative Nurses explains that a nurse is also an advocate for the patient and ensures that the patient receives adequate and appropriate attention (Jardin, 2001). The journal also explains that the profession has been inundated with political and ethical issues that have forced nurses to take their advocacy to a higher level. Jardin (2001) writes:
"The political-ethical dilemma for nurses is primarily perceived rather than actual. This ethical dilemma is related to outdated images of nursing, repression, fear of power, and lack of knowledge. Many guidelines exist to help nurses understand why they should get involved in the political process and determine where emphasis should be placed on public policy issues. By using these guidelines and an ethical framework for political decision-making, nurses can evaluate issues and use a valid method to assess problems, plan for action, and evaluate the effectiveness and benefits of those strategies." (Jardin, 2001)
In today's medical environment, nurses often find themselves fighting for the rights of patients who are uninsured or underinsured. Inadequate health insurance can greatly affect a nurse's ability to care for patients. For this reason, many nurses have entered the political arena as lobbyists on behalf of their patients, urging politicians to ensure healthcare access for all citizens.
Currently, the nursing profession is in dire straits due to a widespread shortage that the medical community is experiencing. According to State Legislatures magazine, the nursing shortage has reached epidemic proportions. There are currently 126,000 unfilled nursing positions in America's hospitals, and this number is expected to grow to 400,000 by the year 2020 (Goodwin, 2002). This shortage is beginning to have a profound effect on patient care and recovery. In many cases, there are not enough nurses to adequately care for patients, which increases the amount of time required for recovery.
Experts contend that there are a number of causes for the current nursing shortage. The main causes appear to be the following:
1. A large percentage of nurses reaching retirement age and an aging population. It is estimated that the average age of nurses is currently 45.2, and there are not enough students entering the field to replace those who retire (Goodwin, 2002). The shortage is further compounded by an aging general population that will gradually require an increasing amount of medical care (Goodwin, 2002).
2. Disinterest among younger people in entering the profession. Young people are increasingly disinterested in nursing careers. Instead, many students are opting for professions that offer higher pay and greater opportunities for advancement.
3. Lower wages than many other professions. Nurses earn less than individuals in many comparable professions while often working longer hours. This disparity leads many prospective workers to choose fields with better compensation and advancement prospects.
4. Poor benefits and difficult working conditions. Nurses in many states are required to work mandatory overtime, which frequently interferes with their personal lives. State Legislatures magazine asserts:
"Recent studies suggest that nurses are not satisfied in their jobs. About 30 percent of nurses say they are dissatisfied in their current position, according to the 2000 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses. This is higher than levels seen in other kinds of jobs. Nurses working in hospitals and nursing homes have even lower job satisfaction than all nurses... A 2001 American Nurses Association survey of nurses found that 75 percent of those surveyed believed that the quality of nursing where they work had declined in the past two years, and 56 percent said that the time they have for patients has decreased." (Goodwin, 2002)
"Recruitment incentives and workplace reforms"
"Historical development and expanding nurse roles"
The purpose of this discussion was to provide an in-depth examination of the nursing profession. We began by providing a comprehensive definition of what it means to be a nurse, concluding that nurses provide patients with medical care under the supervision of a physician while also serving as patient advocates. We then discussed the current state of the nursing profession, identifying the causes of the shortage — including an aging nursing workforce, declining interest in the profession, and poor working conditions — and the solutions, which center on recruiting new nursing students and improving workplace conditions. Finally, we explored the status of the nursing profession in Australia, finding that nurses there worked hard to establish nursing as a respected profession and that Australian nurses today eagerly pursue additional education at the graduate level.
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