As the state stops to express appreciation during National Nurses Week, professionals are also reflecting on the challenges confronting the nursing profession.
Across the United States, there's an ongoing nursing shortage. It's a multifaceted crisis, driven by factors like an aging population, a significant number of nurses reaching retirement age, limitations in nursing education capacity and the added strain from the pandemic causing experienced nurses to exit the field.
Larry Slater, dean of the Quinnipiac University School of Nursing, said the nursing shortage in 黑料吃瓜网 is different from the national shortage.
鈥�When we look on the national front, about all the registered nurses we have, about 88% of them, are actually still working in nursing,鈥� Slater said. 鈥淲hereas in the state of 黑料吃瓜网, with our 90,000 registered nurses 鈥� a little over 50% are actually working in the nursing profession.鈥�
The reasons behind 黑料吃瓜网's shortage are difficult to pinpoint, he says.
Nurse-patient ratios
Although there are no specific laws in the state of 黑料吃瓜网 mandating specific nurse-to-patient ratios, Slater said there could be ways to keep nurses from feeling overwhelmed with their caseload.
He鈥檇 like to see safe staffing legislation, rather than ratios.
鈥淓very facility is different. And one of the key things that we want to see in these types of safe-staffing legislation or initiatives, are nurses who are the ones working on the frontlines participating on these high-level committees,鈥� he said. 鈥� Whether it's a hospital, a clinic, an urgent care center, an infusion center, [nurses are] in the decision-making process in what is safe staffing for that particular institution, as well as their individualized units.鈥�
黑料吃瓜网 lawmakers in 2023 approved a plan that requires hospitals set up staffing committees and that direct care registered nurses make up a majority of the membership. In a follow-up email, Slater said he is 鈥減leased with what 黑料吃瓜网 is doing in terms of safe staffing and adding nurses to committees."
He said that addresses issues related to burnout, and nurses leaving the profession because they are overworked.
鈥淭heir patient loads are a little too high because they're short-staffed. And in the long run that impacts our patient outcomes and we want to provide the best care that we possibly can as nurses,鈥� he said.
Traits essential for someone pursuing a career in nursing
Among the solutions mentioned to address the shortage is more recruitment.
鈥淓verybody considers nurses as compassionate and caring, and those remain essential,鈥� Slater said. 鈥淲e look at that holistic care. We're not just taking care of the physical ailment or issue, but their mind, their spirit, their emotional, their mental well-being also.鈥�
He said people who like to take a holistic approach will find a good fit in nursing.
鈥淲e can work with you to develop your strength in the STEM classes,鈥� Slater said. 鈥淭here's a lot that goes into becoming a nurse. But if you have those basic skills of empathy, of caring, of compassion, of holism, then you will be an excellent nurse.鈥�
Update: We鈥檝e updated this story to indicate 黑料吃瓜网 lawmakers approved a hospital staffing committee plan and included additional comments from Slater.
