Nurses are Burning Out on the Job. Educators Can Help.
Across the United States nurses are burning out at work.
This burnout is leading to an increasing number of nurses leaving the job altogether, which has contributed to an industry-wide shortage of nurses. The shortage threatens both the profession and the quality of patient care. In fact, according to a 2022 report by McKinsey & Company, the country may face a nursing shortage of 200,000 to 450,000 registered nurses (RNs) by 2025 alone.
Likewise, another 2022 study published in Health Affairs found that the nationwide supply of nurses decreased by more than 100,000 between 2020 and 2021 alone—marking the largest drop observed in the past four decades.
Many factors are contributing to this unprecedented nursing shortage in the United States. If left unaddressed, the nationwide nursing shortage could have profound impacts on patient care.
There are steps that can be taken by both policymakers and nursing educators to alleviate the shortage and promote a brighter future for the nursing profession.
Burnout? Low Wages? Covid? What's Causing the Nationwide Nursing Shortage?
Numerous factors are contributing to the widespread nursing shortage, ranging from fatigue and burnout among current RNs to low wages and retirement.
Nurse fatigue and burnout are major reasons that many qualified and capable nurses are leaving the profession. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many nurses were overworked to the point of exhaustion, compounding feelings of fatigue and dissatisfaction that had already been brewing. In fact, according to a 2022 study, 52% of surveyed nurses reported that they were considering leaving the profession due to their work negatively affecting their health and wellbeing.
In addition to nurse burnout, a large segment of the current nursing workforce is nearing retirement age, which will further contribute to the shortage in the coming years. According to a 2020 study by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the average age of an RN in the United States is 52 years old. The profession could easily see 1 million nurses (or more) retiring by 2030.
Finally, there's the fact that the demand for nurses has increased as the Baby Boomer generation has aged and required more medical care. The United States Census Bureau reports that there will be 77 million people aged 65 and older by 2034, which will result in an increased need for geriatric care and general nursing care.
What Does a Nursing Shortage Mean for Patients?
Unfortunately, as the demand for nurses continues to outweigh the supply, patient care will suffer. For example, when hospitals are short-staffed, more patients may be assigned to individual nurses. This prevents already-overworked nurses from spending the time required to truly understand each patient's needs and provide the highest level of care. Over time, this could result in adverse outcomes such as:
- Increased readmission rates
- Lower quality of care
- Higher risk of error in treatment
- Higher risk of patient injury or death
Initiatives to Remedy the Nursing Shortage
Some efforts are already underway to address the growing nursing shortage across the country. For example, partnerships among schools are being created to promote enrollment in nursing programs.
Specifically, Minnesota State University and the University of Minnesota formed partnership in 2022, creating the Coalition for Nursing Equity and Excellence. This coalition will work directly with every nursing school in Minnesota to increase enrollment in nursing programs and advocate for nurses entering the workforce.
Meanwhile, many schools are also implementing so-called "fast-track" nursing programs, allowing students to complete their degrees and begin working in the field faster. These programs are most commonly offered for nurses seeking a second bachelor’s degree or a Master's Degree in Nursing (MSN), but it is possible that these programs may be expanded to include other degree or certificate options.
What Role Can Nursing Educators Play?
Despite ongoing efforts to remedy the nursing crisis, nursing instructors also play an important role. First and foremost, nursing educators have an important responsibility to prepare students for the realities of the job while covering such important topics as mental health and wellness, signs of burnout (and solutions), and conflict resolution. These topics (and more) are covered extensively in Jones & Bartlett Learning's fourth edition of Leadership in Nursing Practice: The Intersection of Innovation and Teamwork in Healthcare Systems.
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Nursing educators can also take on the vital role of serving as advocates for nursing students, pushing for the facilities and equipment schools need to properly train and prepare incoming nurses for the job. According to a 2021 report on nursing education, schools in the United States turned down more than 91,000 qualified nursing applications in 2021 alone due to lack of faculty, classroom space, equipment, and funding. Nursing educators working in schools where this is an issue can make a change by bringing attention to equipment/classroom shortages and possibly even researching or applying for Federal and state grants.
Lastly, nursing educators should be promoting clinical placement programs through their institutions. Currently, there are simply not enough clinical placements available for current nursing students, which contributes to a lack of proper training. Many schools, however, are finding success by branching out and seeking clinical placement opportunities outside of hospitals. Behavioral health centers, primary care offices, and even schools can be an excellent source of these opportunities for nursing students—and nursing educators can help to bridge these connections.
Looking to the Future
With fewer nurses working in the field and an increasing demand for medical care among the country's aging population, it has never been more important to put nurses (and nursing students) first. Likewise, all nursing educators play a vital role in preparing current nursing students for the realities of the job while serving as advocates for better working conditions.
With the right initiatives and support, it is possible to remedy the nursing shortage over time. However, steps must be taken now to create a better future for nursing students, current nurses, and the patients who rely on skilled and compassionate nursing care.
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