The Nursing Shortage

and Nursing Retention

Nikki Tacsik
Professional Issues in Nursing – Spring 2019
  Civil War shortage

 First “nursing schools” were created in 1873

 The American Society of Superintendents of Training Schools for

History Nurses in 1893 created standards for nursing training

 1930’s shortage

 Stereotypical nurse

 As more health care facilities are built the shortage increases

  Poor management

 Stressful working conditions

Reasons  Inadequate supplies

Nurses Leave  Staffing ratios

the Workforce  Schedule (days/nights, weekends, holidays, long hours)

 Workplace injury

 Desire to experience a different area of nursing

  By 2020 there will be a shortage of 1 million nurses (Block, Claffey,
Prediction Korow, and McCaffrey, 2005)
  Nurse residency
 Mentorship programs
 Keeping ancillary staff

Solutions  Giving ancillary staff more responsibility

 Better staffing ratios
 Flexible hours
 Magnet model
  Transition from new grad to young professional
 Well rounded, and longer, orientation
 Connect with other new nurses
Nurse  Hear stories from older nurses
 Continue to practice skills
Residency &
Mentorship
Programs  New nurses are able to have a ‘buddy’ to feel comfortable asking
questions
 Single preceptor for orientation
  LPNs
 Proved effective in 1930s
 Decreases RN workload
 Aides
Ancillary Staff  Routine responsibilities
 2 aides on every shift
 Secretaries, dietary, etc.
 Keep them staffed on slow days
 Hold them responsible for their jobs
  Better staffing ratios
Better Staffing  Unsafe ratios

Ratios and  If ancillary staff is not going to be available then ratios need to
change
Flexible Hours  Continuity of care vs flexible hours
  formed in 1990 as the Magnet Hospital Recognition Program for
Excellence in Nursing Services
 Originally had 14 characteristics that created an environment
conducive to attracting and retaining well-qualified nurses who
promoted quality care
 Forces of Magnetism
Magnet Model  Today, there are 5
 1. Transformational Leadership
 2. Structural Empowerment
 3. Exemplary Professional Practice
 4. New Knowledge, Innovation, and Improvement
 5. Empirical Quality Results
Magnet Model
  What it means for patients

Magnet Model  What it means for nurses

 What it means for health care organizations