Nursing faculty shortages: How are you able to be a part of the answer?

As I explored topics that would help nurses, I used to be struck by the variety of articles, commentaries, and studies on the subject shortages of nursing staff I discovered.

No matter who you’re, the nursing shortage could ultimately impact you, whether you provide or receive care. IN information sheetThe American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) says the shortage is as a consequence of “budget constraints, an aging faculty, and increasing job competition from clinical sites.” AACN is not the only nursing association or skilled organization concerned about shortages. The American Nurses Association (ANA) and the National League for Nursing (NLN) have also expressed concerns concerning the current situation. They also proposed solutions to cut back or eliminate the shortage of nursing staff.

Previous research

Nursing staff shortages are a worldwide problem. IN 2013 study, two nurse researchers assessed the issue from a worldwide perspective and proposed possible solutions to the issue of staff shortages. Briefly, researchers examined proposed solutions to the worldwide nursing shortage. They conducted a scientific review examining strategies to draw qualified nurses to full-time faculty positions and support them once they enter the role. The strategies have been identified by leading nursing organizations similar to the Tri-Council of Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau International Honorary Nursing Society. More than 180 recommendations in 62 publications resulted in the next foremost distinctive solutions:

1. The need to finish two years of nursing studies (for qualified teaching staff to then be employed in higher-level nursing studies)
2. Establishment of nursing residency programs
3. Removing barriers to advanced practice so more nurses pursue advanced degrees in nursing (thereby increasing the pool of expert nursing faculty)
4. Lecturer salaries that compete with clinical practice salaries

All of those recommendations require international attention to remove existing barriers to increasing a reliable nursing workforce worldwide.

Suggested solutions

Discussion about solutions continued in the shape of research, articles, support and statements from nursing skilled associations and organizations. Although shortages still exist, some suggestions and implementations might help reduce nursing shortages. One interesting opportunity is to employ former military nurse officers (MNOs) as nursing staff. Multi-generational, experienced, and racially, ethnically, and gender diverse, their experience will bring much to nursing education. Moreover, a lot of these mobile network operators have degrees that they’ve obtained during their work. The transition from the work roles that mobile network operators are accustomed to to the roles of nurses requires a transition period and mentoring. One approach to achieve this could be to make use of military master of the departmentwhich could make the transition smoother.

Another idea to cut back the nursing shortage is to encourage students to contemplate teaching. Research has shown that providing BSN students with insight into the role of college, in addition to providing teaching experiences and encouragement, might help students determine whether to pursue a college role.

And recently, Future Academic Nursing Development Act (FAAN). (S. 4396/HR 7945) was introduced by Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair Jeff Merkley together with Representatives Lauren Underwood and Eddie Bernice Johnson, each RNs. The bill would invest $1 billion in schools of nursing to, amongst other things, increase the nursing workforce by hiring and retaining a various workforce. The AACN is optimistic the bill shall be included in the following Covid-19 relief package.

What are you able to do concerning the nursing shortage?

Nursing shortages won’t be solved easily or quickly. But every step, regardless of how small, can lead to improvement. Here’s what you possibly can do to assist:

• If you’re a nursing faculty member in any nursing education program, encourage your students to significantly consider a profession in nursing.
• If you’re a college member, be an envoy for nursing faculty roles by participating in webinars, virtual convention presentations, and small group discussions for the general public on the nursing faculty shortage and its impact on the longer term – not only on nursing, but on the viability and quality of future care health for all of us.
• Regardless of your role, you possibly can support laws to deal with nursing shortages, similar to the FAAN Act, by contacting legislators and educating the general public about laws supporting nursing.
• Whether you’re a college member or a student, be open to changes in nursing education that provide an actual solution to the shortage problem.
• If you’re a nursing student, seriously consider pursuing a profession as a nursing faculty member once you’ve got gained the required clinical experience.

Take these courses to learn more about home care:

As gatekeepers to protected nursing practice, faculty have a wealthy history of providing knowledge, teaching essential nursing skills, and provoking students to set high standards of patient care. Today’s faculty face unparalleled challenges preparing students for increasingly complex nursing roles. Incorporating recent knowledge into the curriculum and using technology to boost learning and prepare nurses for lifelong learning offer educators the chance to influence the longer term of nursing. This module discusses modern teaching strategies that nurse educators use to deal with these challenges. Our nation faces a critical shortage of nurses and nurse educators. The excellent news is that the variety of applications to nursing programs, the variety of program enrollments, and the variety of graduates have increased over the previous couple of years. The bad news is that despite several years of increased admissions, too many qualified applicants are being rejected, largely as a consequence of insufficient staffing. An increasing aging population and advanced patient care technology proceed to extend the nation’s need for more nurses. A key element of the Future of Nursing report focused on the necessity to double the variety of nurses with PhD degrees by 2020. Achieving this suggestion is anticipated to have an effect on other key suggestions within the report, similar to increased engagement of nurses in lifelong learning, empowering nurses to pioneer change and enabling nurses to gather and analyze healthcare data. In theory, this can be a win-win situation for each parties. In fact, PhDs earned have to be aligned with a nurse’s profession goals and passions to fulfill the needs of the nursing career as outlined within the FON report.