Virgnia Henderson, RN, captured the selfless heroism of nursing as she observed, “The nurse is temporarily the consciousness of the unconscious, the love of life of the suicidal, the leg of the amputee, the eyes of the newly blind, a means of locomotion for the newborn, knowledge and confidence for the young mother, a voice for those too weak to speak, and so on.”
In the most vulnerable moments of life, nurses are at our side, offering comfort, strength, and skillful care. Your hours are long, and your sacrifices are great. The medical profession would be at a loss without you.
Your advocates at Trek Healthcare Staffing want you to be informed and equipped for the challenges of nursing in 2024, so you can continue to do what you do best…changing the world one patient at a time.
The Demand for Nursing Professionals Continues to Grow
Staffing shortages remain a persistent issue across the country. Beyond the attrition in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, two other key issues are at play. The largest generation to reach retirement age to date, the baby boomers, are leaving the profession, creating an enormous hole as they take their wealth of experience and expertise with them. This sizable generation is also living longer, so in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and clinics, additional nursing staff is needed because of the expanding health needs of the country’s population.
As a nurse, you will continue to be in the driver’s seat of your career path with ample opportunities, particularly if you have advanced degrees and certifications. APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses) will be highly sought after because of their ability to treat illness, injury, and write prescriptions. Additionally, as the execution of healthcare services and the focus on education and wellness continues to expand, a 40% increase in demand for Nurse Practitioners (NPs) is expected by 2031, a higher growth demand than any other profession.
Nurses of all levels of certification can expect job security for the foreseeable future. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the overall demand for nurses will grow 6% between now and 2031. Beyond traditional clinics and hospitals, telemedicine grew exponentially over the last few years, and the field of mental health is opening up further opportunities to guide patients toward a rich quality of life.
Staffing Shortages Add Pressure to Nursing Work
On many levels, the great demand for nurses is positive news. If you are looking to shift or expand your career, you can. If you were on the fence regarding the value of going back to school, yes, that additional degree will pay off. However, be aware that in day-to-day operations, you may feel the effects of the shortages in terms of greater demands placed upon you and larger patient loads to care for.
The very nature of nursing requires a high degree of resilience and can take a toll on the mental, physical, and emotional health of nurses. In a survey conducted by the American Nurses Foundation in 2023, respondents indicated that struggles with burnout and mental health needs are weighty concerns requiring further attention. Emotional and physical exhaustion, stress, and anxiety developed due to shortages in staffing, increased numbers of patients under their care, and the amount of time demanded for administrative tasks. Emphasis was placed on the urgency of support and care for nurses to ensure their continuation in the profession and their overall good health.
Predictably, turnover remains an ongoing issue, even though it has declined somewhat in the last two years. Among survey participants, 20% had begun new jobs less than six months prior, a whopping 39% were making plans to change positions in upcoming months. Dishearteningly, 41% of those directly involved in patient care were making plans to leave the profession altogether. Those who expressed dissatisfaction with their work cited three primary reasons: they did not feel valued by their employers, the shortage of staffing placed unreasonable demands upon them, and the compensation was not adequate for the work demanded.
Nurses Must Put on Their Own Oxygen Masks
Perhaps nowhere does the oxygen mask principle apply more aptly than in the profession of nursing. Day in and day out, you perform selfless tasks of care, comfort, education, and support. In such a role, it is not selfish to look out for your own health and well-being, but vital. You must be the guardian and gatekeeper of your own health or you risk developing health problems of your own, along with career burnout.
Shockingly, while the survey cited burnout as one of the most significant issues in nursing, 67% of the survey respondents confessed they were not receiving any sort of support services for their mental health. More than half of this group believed that facing mental health struggles remains stigmatized, even within a profession dedicated to the health and wellness of others. Many also cited inadequate time, insufficient financial resources, and the expectation that they should be able to “handle it” on their own as reasons they were not addressing their mental wellness.
Administrators, nurses need your help to create a work environment and culture of wellness. Two chief issues contributing to nursing burnout have been long-standing problems for years: understaffing and excessive administrative demands. Address these by hiring additional staff and outsourcing the administrative demands so nurses can do the lifesaving work they were trained to do. Additionally, building a culture of support and inclusiveness by offering mental health resources and open dialogues will give nurses a chance to let their voices and needs be heard without fear of repercussions. This will begin the vital work of breaking down stigmas and giving nurses the courage to seek the mental health care they need.
Nursing Is Not for the Faint of Heart
Nurses, as you continue to selflessly serve your patients from the frontline of healthcare, we applaud your dedication and implore you to take good care of yourself so you can continue to look toward a bright future in your profession. At Trek, we are here to help you grow and succeed in work that you love, so if you’d like to learn more about the many opportunities awaiting you through travel nursing, don’t hesitate. Reach out to us today.
