New survey says nursing shortage will get worse

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A predicted shortage of nurses may turn out to be even worse than expected, a survey released Thursday warns.

The national survey, prepared by the Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, found that one in five nurses plans to leave the profession within five years because of unsatisfactory working conditions.

"This is the first we've heard that such a large group of nurses is seriously considering bolting within the next five years," said Sandra Feldman, president of the American Federation of Teachers, parent organization of the FNHP. "This foreshadows a more serious and widespread crisis in health care than previously believed."

Of the nurses who said they plan to leave, 75 percent said they could be persuaded to stay if improvements were made, including better staffing levels, more flexible schedules, and higher salaries, the nurses' group said.

"Hospitals have to do what it takes to retain nurses they have, try to bring back those who left in frustration, and recruit new people into the profession." Feldman said.

The survey interviewed 700 current nurses and 207 former nurses, the FNHP said. Half of the current nurses said they have thought about leaving nursing.

The survey suggests that one of the main reasons nurses are leaving their jobs is severe understaffing at a time when patient loads are larger. More than half said they are leaving because their jobs are too stressful and physically demanding. Mandatory overtime, irregular hours and worsening working conditions were among other complaints. And 68 percent of the current nurses polled said morale is low.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 450,000 additional registered nurses will be needed to fill the present demand through the year 2008.

With even more nurses leaving the profession, the FNHP said, the shortage of nurses could become critical.

But, nearly a quarter of the former nurses surveyed said higher salaries, better staffing and better schedules would get them to return to nursing.

The FNHP is a 55,000-member health care division of the American Federation of Teachers.

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Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals
American Nurses Association
International Council of Nurses
American Nurses Foundation

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