| Despite challenges resulting
from a worsening national nursing shortage that has strained
nurses in their efforts to care for their patients, most
nurses say they are satisfied with their jobs and would
recommend their profession to others, according to a landmark
study jointly sponsored by NurseWeek magazine and the
American Organization of Nurse Executives.
Results of the scientific study, conducted by Harris
Interactive for NurseWeek and AONE's Institute for Patient
Care Research and Education, suggest that the nursing
shortage is no longer limited to certain geographic
regions and nursing practice specialties.
Indeed, 88 percent reported that in their communities
the supply of nurses falls short of demand. Seven of
10 nurses working in hospital settings said that during
the past year they had witnessed a negative impact on
the quality of patient care as a result of a greater
number of patients per nurse and higher turnover among
experienced RNs.
More than 4,000 registered nurses from all 50 states
participated in the research study that is being presented
at the AONE annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., April 6-10.
Eighty-nine percent of the RNs working in hospitals
said the nursing shortage has reduced the amount of
time nurses have to devote to each of their patients,
and 76 percent said the shortage has had a negative
impact on the quality of patient care provided by nurses.
Despite the alarming trends, 77 percent of the nurses
in the scientific sampling said they are satisfied with
being a nurse, and 60 percent said they remain satisfied
with their jobs and would recommend their profession
as a career choice, a finding that counters some recent
reports portraying nurses as so unhappy they would advise
young people to choose another profession.
"The results of this survey show that nurses truly
love their profession but are finding it increasingly
difficult to provide the patient care they feel is needed,"
said Mary A. Blegen, RN, Ph.D., FAAN, professor and
interim associate dean for research at the School of
Nursing, University of Colorado Health Science Center.
Blegen was part of a blue-ribbon advisory team assembled
to produce a research study that would provide objective
data about workforce trends and identify possible steps
that might be taken to address the shortage in the years
ahead.
RNs who plan to leave the profession within the next
three years account for 14 percent of the current nursing
work force, according to the study. About 10 percent
of the nursing work force plans to pursue jobs in another
profession.
But 58 percent said higher salary or benefits would
"very likely" cause them to reconsider, while
50 percent said better staffing and 48 percent said
more respect from management would very likely cause
them to reconsider.
"This study provides us with a snapshot of opinion
from nurses across the country, said Pamela Thompson,
AONE's chief executive officer. "It is vitally
important that we listen to what they have to tell us
and to work with them to create healthy work environments."
NurseWeek President Dennis Riordan said he hopes the
research study provides helpful and reliable data for
health care planners and policymakers working to address
the nursing shortage. "We believe there is a critical
need to better understand what nurses are thinking and
feeling in regards to their workplace and careers,"
Riordan said. "Finding solutions to the shortage
is critically important for the future health and well
being of every American."
Deloras Jones, MS, RN, who headed the research advisory
team for NurseWeek and AONE, said the study provides
planners and policymakers with objective, unbiased data
they have not had before. "It's valuable information
for workforce planning and for organizational change,
for those organizations that want to make a difference,"
Jones said..."Are we wise enough to listen to the
voices of America's nurses and make the changes to make
a difference?"
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