Letter: Many strategies needed to address nursing shortage

Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2004 | 9:04 a.m.

The shortage of skilled nurses is not just a problem in Nevada, but is a nationwide problem (13 percent vacancy rate currently increasing to 20 percent by 2015), and a worldwide problem.

The shortage will become a profound problem as nurses age and retire from nursing -- the current average age of the practicing nurse in the United States is 48. Enrollment in nursing schools does not meet current needs and will not meet the replacement needs in the future.

Solutions to alleviate the shortage must be long term as well as short term. Young people must be aggressively encouraged to enroll in nursing programs, and elected officials must be willing to fund the expansion of current nursing programs and establish new nursing programs and scholarship opportunities.

The creation of better working environments is also essential. Nurses must be treated with respect by physicians and should be viewed as equal partners in the provision of care.

Numerous studies have found that when there is a lack of skilled, experienced nurses, morbidity and mortality rates go up. It will take much more than words to solve the ongoing nursing shortage. I urge the legislators to seriously study the issues and develop short-term and long-term strategies to resolve the problem.

HELEN MIRAMONTES, RN