Gathering Place
Grace Blodgett
Rx for Hawaii’s
shortage of nursesIn hospitals all over Hawaii, there is a silent crisis brewing. It is a problem that may go undetected by the average citizen -- but not for long. In large and small hospitals throughout the islands, there is a critical shortage of registered nurses. It is a problem not just in Hawaii, but on the mainland as well. And it is a problem that will worsen unless some bold steps are taken in the near future.
Consider these alarming statistics: According to a recent Healthcare Association of Hawaii report on trends in nursing, more than 40 percent of Hawaii's nursing work force is over age 50, and three-quarters are over 40. Half of our state's nurses will retire in the next 15 years, and there will be a massive struggle to find replacements. That is because 400 Hawaii nurses are retiring annually, but only 280 new nurses graduate.
As baby boomers get older, the demand for new nurses to care for more of the elderly will reach crisis proportions. Why are there so few registered nurses? What does this mean to the average patient and the family? And what can be done to combat the problem?
Let's address the reasons behind the shortage. First, the working conditions are difficult in many health-care facilities due to chronic understaffing. This forces nurses to do more with less help, resulting in their ever-present concern for patient safety. As fewer nurses enter the field, there are more challenges in the workplace -- which is precisely what drives nurses away from the profession in the first place.
Second, in the past, nursing was one of the few career options for women. But now, with women rising up the career ladder in virtually every profession, recent female high school and college graduates are finding greater personal and financial rewards in other careers.
What does this mean for the average patient? It translates into more time spent in the hospital waiting room and less time receiving care from a registered nurse. An increasing number of patients may end up seeing a less experienced or less-prepared assistant, who is often equally stressed. Serious nursing errors could result.
What can be done about the shortage of nurses? As a registered nurse with more than 40 years of acute nursing care experience, I believe there are many things that can be done within the Hawaii health-care system, the education system and the community at large to avert an even greater shortage.
There is still interest in the nursing profession; however nursing educators need to work seamlessly with health-care facilities and high schools to communicate effectively with potential nursing students. We need to demonstrate that nursing is a worthwhile and rewarding profession, one that is valued by the community.
Today's nurses are much more than "caregivers." Registered nurses are critical thinkers, problem solvers, researchers, administrators, educators, case managers, to name a few. And with today's threats of bioterrorism, SARS and other infectious diseases, nurses are on the forefront of identifying and treating new dangers to public health.
Communicating this message won't be easy. That's because nursing isn't easy. It is a challenging profession with plenty of hard work. Yet nursing can be extremely rewarding. We must relay the importance of the profession to young people who are considering health-care careers -- and illustrate that nursing is the cornerstone of our nation's health-care system. Without nurses, the health-care system could collapse.
We in the education community must continue to offer flexible approaches to current nurses who want to advance their careers. The key is making education for nurses accessible with evening and weekend classes that rotate clinicals, online and on-ground classes and non-traditional locations.
While the problem may seem staggering, it is possible to make a real difference. We must all work to spread the word and look out for the well-being of Hawaii's nurses -- so that when we visit the hospital, they will look out for us!
Grace Blodgett is vice president and campus director of the University of Phoenix, Hawaii.
