| Media
Advisory
Healthcare
Executives Deeply Concerned
About Nursing Shortage:
Articles in New England Journal of Medicine and Journal of Healthcare
Management Focus on Shortage Issues
|
WHAT:
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Two
healthcare journals are covering the U.S. nursing shortage, how
it affects the quality of patient care and reasons for it. This
week's New England Journal of Medicine addresses the potential
risks of inadequate nurse staffing levels. The first of a two-part
series, "The Nursing Shortage: Why is it Happening?" in
the Journal of Healthcare Management cites the many reasons
for the current problem.
Three
experts in healthcare management and human resources are available
to comment on the nursing shortage, which could become one of the
most significant crises in healthcare of the early twenty-first
century.
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|
WHO:
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Steven
Barney, FACHE, senior vice president, Human Resources, SSM Health
Care in St. Louis and author of the article in the Journal of Healthcare
Management
Connie
Curran, Ed. D., R.N., president and chief executive officer, CurranCare,
a national healthcare management and consulting organization
Thomas
Dolan, Ph.D., FACHE, CAE, president and chief executive officer,
American College of Healthcare Executives
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WHY:
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The
shortage of nurses is expected to reach 1 million by 2010 and 1.5
million by 2020. The average age of nurses in the U.S. is 46, up from
31 in the 1970s. Also, nearly 70 percent of nurses are more than age
40; only 9 percent are under 30. At the same time, nursing school
enrollment has decreased by 20.9 percent, causing some schools to
close. Conversely, in the next 15 to 20 years, roughly 76 billion
baby boomers will reach retirement age, which will create an unprecedented
demand for healthcare services.
Fearing
that quality of care may be at risk in organizations with lower
nurse-to-patient ratios, the state of California has mandated minimum
ratios for all of its hospitals; other states are considering similar
action.
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WHERE:
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Journal
of Healthcare Management, Vol. 47, No. 3 (May/June), 2002: pp
153-155
***Electronic versions of article are available upon request*** |
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CONTACT:
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Ann
C. Bartling, CHE, (312) 424-9420 |
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