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We all knew it was coming \u2013 but the shortage of healthcare workers is quickly becoming worse than predicted. Let\u2019s look at industry trends to better understand the post-pandemic 2023 healthcare landscape.<\/span><\/p>\n In a March 2022 letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the <\/span>American Hospital Association<\/span><\/a> declared the workforce shortage in hospitals a \u201cnational emergency\u201d, predicting the overall shortage of nursing to reach over 1 million by the end of the year, joined by other shortages in areas like laboratory workers and paramedics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n U.S. News and World Report<\/span><\/a> writes that \u201cstaffing shortages are now the nation\u2019s top safety concern, forcing Americans to endure longer wait times when seeking care, even in life-threatening emergencies, or to be turned away entirely.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Surveys of current workers<\/span><\/a> reveal that up to 25% of them are still looking at ways to leave the field altogether. As conditions worsen, and more of the remaining staff are working short-handed, the situation seems to be on a downward spiral.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What is driving this staff shortage snowball effect? Demand is up, and supply is going down. The crisis is particularly disturbing in nursing, known as the heart of healthcare. The <\/span>US Department of Labor Statistics<\/span><\/a> projects that 500,000 nurses have left the profession in 2022, boosting the current shortage to over one million nurses. Nurses are needed everywhere – across the entire continuum of care –\u00a0 from the office setting to urgent care, hospitals, home health, long-term care, and hospice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), more registered nurse jobs will be available through 2022 than in any other profession in the United States.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n The reasons for this <\/span>dramatic shortage<\/span><\/a> are complicated, but it comes down to a lack of potential nurse educators (master\u2019s degree prepared), high turnover, and inequitable workforce distribution. The nursing workforce is aging, with one million RNs older than 50 and retiring in the next 10-ish years. This number includes nursing faculty, which in turn limits the number of new nursing students that can enroll.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The pandemic has also exacerbated the shortage issue by creating the ideal environment for burnout and dissatisfaction with career choices. Many nurses discover that the job is both physically and mentally taxing, more so than they expected. Other factors like health risks, violence in the healthcare setting, and worsening staffing ratios often lead nurses to pursue non-clinical roles or change professions altogether.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the same time, the population\u2019s demand for healthcare is increasing due to the aging baby boomer generation. This generation presents the highest number of Americans over age 65 in history \u2013 resulting in a 73% increase in Americans aged 65 and older by 2029.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nNursing Supply and Demand<\/span><\/h1>\n
Quality and Safety Implications<\/span><\/h2>\n