Study Finds Worldwide Critical Nursing Shortage

The data from the survey included responses from 105 nurses' unions and associations.

"Ninety of the 105 nurses' unions and organizations in our survey, representing 69 nations and every geographic region, reported their countries were experiencing a nursing shortage. This is bound to have a negative impact on the quality of patient care,” says Dr. Paul F. Clark, professor of labor studies and industrial relations at Penn State. Although the exact cause of the shortage varies from country to country, Dr. Clark attributes the shortage in the United States to the for-profit, bottom-line managed care system, which cuts costs by pruning the labor force.

The work-related problem cited most frequently was understaffing, especially in the United States, but was also a major issue for nurses in Europe and Asia. Many nurses also objected to the practice of "floating,” whereby understaffed hospitals move nurses from one unit to another with which they are less familiar. Another problem is the outflow of nurses to more affluent countries. "This exacerbates the shortage that already exists in poorer countries and further weakens their health-care systems,” notes Dr. Clark.

Nurses' associations list stress as their leading safety and health problem, followed by back and musculoskeletal ailments, contact with contaminated needles, and workplace bullying or violence. They rank better salaries and benefits and improved patient care as their highest priorities.




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