Nurses are what make healthcare go around. Nurses provide the majority of medical care. A nursing shortage has ensued for many decades, and the need for nurses is only getting higher, especially with the aging baby boomer generation. The United States has more people over 65 than ever, making the demand for healthcare workers even greater. With the aging population, you also have more people retiring. We are losing nurses creating an even more considerable hospital strain. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the job growth rate for registered nurses is projected to be 7% from 2019-2029.
Combating the Nursing Shortage with Internationally Educated Nurses
The nursing shortage is a significant crisis in the US, and COVID it's only made things worse, causing some hospitals even to have to close their doors. One way to help with nursing shortages is to bring certified international nurses. These are educated nurses ready to aid in the nursing shortage. With good pay and working conditions, the medical field has brought in more international nurses. Nursing educational systems have tried to expand, taking on more students to help the demand for medical workers. However, that takes several years to complete the required courses, another reason these foreign nurses aid in the hospital strain. The pandemic at hand brings a need for more travel nurses. Travel nurses have played a massive part in keeping health care afloat.
How Does International Nurse Licensure Work?
First, an international nurse wanting to work in the US must graduate from an accredited nursing program in the country they come from. To work as a nurse in the states, you must hold a nursing license in the state you wish to work in, be able to perform the necessary job skills required, and speak the English language.
PRN Staffing Solutions Help Provide Nurses with PRN Jobs
Another way to combat the nursing shortage and relieve hospital strain is with PRN nurses. These are nurses, among other health professionals on call; Nursa has a simple and easy app. Download your app and add your profile. If you have any problems, there's a support team ready to help. This app will connect you to short-staffed hospitals picking up shifts as you want. This eases the burden of overworking the hospital's existing employees. These PRN jobs are ready to take on registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs). Nursa has internationally trained and licensed workers on board to help combat the nursing crisis.
What are the Negative Impacts of the Shortage on Nurses?
There is a high-stress level on nurses, with the pandemic only adding to the problem. With long hours, making critical conditions creates more work for the nurse. There have been budget cuts that are leaving health facilities short-staffed and nurses being moved to different departments and working outside their usual environment. However, nurses are trained to aid patients, which can add much tension to the job. With fewer and fewer staff members at facilities, patients have a longer time to see a healthcare professional. A patient will go longer without being assessed by a staff member, and shorter times with a nurse or doctor become more prevalent.
The Increased Demand for Nurse Educators
In the healthcare system today, there is a real lack of nurse educators. Nursing programs are very costly to universities. Nursing school can cost a whole lot more than just a business degree. To be a nurse educator, most education programs require a master's degree, whereas some believe years of experience in clinical practice are just as good. We need to be acquiring more retirees who have years of medical expertise to help educate new nurses. Another problem is compensation for nurse educators doesn't pay so well, another problem that needs to be addressed.
How are Hospitals and Healthcare Coping with the Nursing Shortage?
Healthcare technology has helped save a lot of hospitals and healthcare facilities that were struggling to fill their PRN jobs. In addition to tightening up their revenue cycle management software and other tools used to help hospitals get paid, many administrators and managers are turning to IT apps to help solve their need for more educated nurses to provide care to patients.
One example app is Nursa. It is designed not only to help clinicians pick up high-paying jobs and advance their careers, but it is also a lifesaver for hospitals, long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and other healthcare centers looking for PRN-educated nurses to pick up shifts. Whether you are in a hospital in need of nurses or a nurse looking for PRN jobs, download the Nursa app today.
