National Nurses Week 2022: Spotlights National Nurse Shortage
Nurses Week is a yearly event each year in May to honor current, past, and future nurses. The event is acknowledged with ceremonies, educational programs, and community celebrations. Events for Nurses Week are held at the national, state, county, and local levels.
Nurses Week programs are geared toward educating the public about the contributions nurses make to health care. However, most of these events focus on nurses who treat people in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Nurses who treat patients in their homes are often overlooked, sometimes even by nurses themselves. Nurses Week events usually do not highlight the essential role that home health care nurses play in the system.
History of National Nurses Week
Read More »The American Nurses Association created the celebration to recognize nurses for their contributions to health care each year. The goal of National Nurses Week is not only to honor nursing but also to focus attention on the critical health and safety issues that all Americans face.
Activities
Volunteers and other organizations conduct National Nurses Week activities. They include special ceremonies, conferences, seminars, and exhibits. Most of these activities are held at the national level. However, some events take place on a state or local level. National Nurses Week celebrations draw attention to health care issues critical to the public’s health and well-being. These events also allow individuals to honor the contributions nurses have made throughout history.
Why is National Nurses Week important?
1. Provides nurses with the recognition they deserve
This event gives nurses the honor and respect they deserve for their significant contributions to health care, thus helping to improve health conditions in America.
2. Help nurses focus on the critical issues that face the nation
The goal of National Nurses Week is not only to honor nursing but also to focus attention on the essential health and safety issues that all Americans face. Events held during National Nurses Week may encourage nurses to take a more active role in these issues, making them more effective advocates for their profession and their patients and communities.
3. Highlights the essential role of home health nurses
Nurses Week events are often geared toward improving patient care in hospitals and long-term care facilities. However, most of these events do not focus on the critical role that home health nurses play in the health care system.
4. Provides a forum for nurses to raise health-related issues
Many events during National Nurses Week provide a platform for nurses to voice their concerns about the quality of health care delivered in nursing homes and hospitals. The positive impact of nurses raising these concerns can help improve patient care in America’s healthcare facilities.
5. It gives people a chance to meet, recognize, and honor their local nurses
Many communities are beginning to hold events to acknowledge their home health care nurses. National Nurses Week provides an excellent opportunity for local communities to recognize the contributions of these nurses.
6. Encourages nurses to take the time to reflect on their work
During National Nurses Week events, many nurses say that the essential part of the week is taking a few hours away from their work to do something for themselves and their profession. Many elderly or disabled patients depend upon nurses to provide them with primary care during the critical years before managing on their own. Nurses Week provides an excellent opportunity to take some time out and reflect on these essential months and years.
7. Broadens nurses’ perspective of nursing’s role in society
National Nurses Week allows nurses to broaden their perspective of nursing’s role in society. The events help nurses realize that they are care providers and advocates for their patients and the public health system.
Reasons For Increase In Demand For Nurses
1. Health care system is changing rapidly
The healthcare system is changing so rapidly that people have become increasingly aware of their healthcare needs. As a result, more people are entering the health care system than ever before. More nurses are needed every year to meet the growing demand for health care professionals.
2. Nursing becomes a better-educated profession
As people become more aware of the high level of care nurses provide, they start to insist on hiring highly trained nurses prepared to meet their needs.
The education system is improving, which will lead to more nurses being hired for jobs by the health care system.
3. Aging population will increase
As the baby boomer generation enters the golden years, they will require more health care services than ever before. These people, who are increasingly living a long time and often in nursing homes, will require special nursing care, which nurses can only provide.
Problems Of Nurse Shortage
1. Shortage of nurses will cause the health care system to deteriorate
The nursing profession is already in a state of crisis, and the shortage will only make it worse. If all members of the job do not work together to solve the problems, people will suffer.
2. A shortage could cause a decrease in nursing education
Because people are choosing to go to nursing school instead of medical school, the demand for nurses may decrease. Because of this, there may be a shortage of nurses in the future.
3. A shortage could drive nurses out of the profession
As the shortage increases and more people enter the nursing profession, many more people will become unhappy with it. As a result, they may eventually quit their jobs and do something else. It will cause even more people to become dissatisfied with nursing because they won’t find a job with good pay.
4. A shortage could cause increases in health care costs
If there aren’t enough nurses to meet the needs of patients, healthcare costs will increase. There will be less care given, and the quality of care will suffer. As a result, more people will become unhealthy and start going to the hospital or other health facilities more often. It will increase the cost of their health care in the long run.
5. The shortage could cause an increase in health care fraud
As more people enter the health care system to receive the care they need, there will be increased healthcare fraud. There will be a shortage of nurses to help keep things running smoothly. As a result, this could increase illegal activities like billing for unnecessary or irregular procedures.
6. Shortage could lead to more hospitals closing
Because hospitals are already feeling a shortage of nurses, more will soon be closing. They need experienced nurses to keep their facilities running and will be unwilling to pay them enough money to stick around. There will be less care in these facilities, and fewer services or operations may occur there. As a result, it may not be the best place for patients to get the care they need.
Nurses are in a state of crisis. The shortage is such that fewer nurses will be hired, and if people don’t see the need for nurses in their homes, the profession will be in danger. As a result, the public health system will fail, and patients may suffer. Because of this, it is essential to support National Nurses Week to encourage more people to become nurses.
