Concepts Case

Assignment

Nursing Agenda Issues

Submit the completed assignment by end of day Sunday of Module 4.

Name: Tammy Abraham Date: April 25, 2013

Student ID: 026193918 Email: toabraha@purduecal.edu

Record your responses in the space provided. The boxes will expand as you type.

Select one issue of the nursing agenda discussed in the required reading.

The issue I selected is the nursing shortage.

In your own words, write at least one paragraph that describes the effect of this issue on the health of the public and the future of professional nursing.

The nursing shortage is a real concern. The average age of a nurse is 43 years old which mean a large group of nurses will retire in the near future. There is a significant decline in admissions to nursing programs. The baby boomer generation is entering their golden years putting an increasing strain on healthcare to provide adequate care.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate that 1 million new and replacement nurses for those who retire is needed by 2016 to meet the increasing demand in staffing needs. This is an alarming statistic.

An adequate or inadequate supply of nurses can impact more than just staffing needs. It can impact cost and access to healthcare, but most importantly the quality of healthcare provided to the patients.

All of this leads to inadequate care for the patient. Reports have shown that higher nurse-patient ratios have caused a rise in UTI's; Upper GI bleeding; shock; pneumonia and longer hospital stays. The future of the patient is in danger due to the nursing shortage.

In your own words, write at least one paragraph that discusses what you can do to demonstrate your support for this issue.

Becoming a mentor instead of a preceptor will enhance the new nurse's experience. Mentoring is quite different than precepting. Mentoring offers support and nurturing not instructions for a procedure or task. Mentoring will help combat the nursing shortage by giving that needed support. Studies show that 20% of first year nurses will leave the profession within a year.

We all must be aware of the way we discuss our work in public. We will give nursing a bad image and therefore limit possible new students to the field. We must be speaking positively and with pride about what we do for a living.

I will become more active in the legislative part of nursing and support any Acts that come about regarding this critical issue.

I will encourage the young people I know to consider becoming a nurse.