var addthis_pub = "nysut"; | E-Mail | Print Forum examines nursing shortage By Liza Frenette - New York Teacher - May 31, 2009    Maria Fernandez, foreground, and Phyllis Hiotakis of the UFT listen to the discussion at the NYSUT forum. Photo by El Wise Noisette. It's tough to take on the nursing shortage when thousands of candidates are turned away from nursing programs, said Brenda Sheingold, an RN and visiting professor at George Washington University.

The nursing population is aging rapidly. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration’s March 2004 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, the aging of nurses as a demographic continues. In March 2004, the average age of the RN population was estimated to be 46.8 years of age, more than a year older than the average age of 45.2 years estimated in 2000 and more than four years older than in 1996, when the average age was 42.3 years.

Patient handling is the #1 cause of Musculoskeletal Disorders among nurses.

No one to teach – nursing schools losing educators  Young people not selecting nursing as a career path  50% of first year nurses leave the profession  33% of senior nurses plan on leaving early due to burn-out, physical issues related to on-the-job demands (source: AMN Healthcare, survey of 1,830 nurses age 45-60)

hospital administrators are scrambling to position their hospital or health network as the ‘employer of choice’ for nurses. Nurses are recruited  like NFL free agents; signing bonuses, car allowances, flexible schedules, and front-loaded tuition reimbursements. In addition, Hospitals are stepping up efforts to keep senior nursing staff. Spa visits, entertainment nights, recognition events; yet still the nursing resource gap continues to widen.

Researchers expect Ohio to be short 32,000 nurses by 2020.

There are more than 2.4 million registered nurses in the United States, making it the largest health profession. The average age of an Ohio nurse is 47, and the median age of a nursing faculty member is 51.