Survey looks at effect of nursing shortage - Brief Article

AORN Journal,  May, 2002  

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A survey by the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) indicates that nurse leaders and hospitals are developing strategies to recruit and retain nurses in light of the nursing vacancies and turnover rates affecting US hospitals, according to a Jan 30, 2002, news release from AONE. Nurse executives from 693 different acute care hospitals participated in the survey.

Among the findings were that RN vacancy rates for specific departments or functions range from 14.6% for critical care nurses to 6.5% for nurse managers. Nationally, the average turnover rate in 2000 was 21.3%. Of the hospitals surveyed, 54% employ temporary staff members and traveling nurses to supplement their workforce.

The nursing shortage has affected hospital services considerably, according to the release. Staffing problems have resulted in

* higher costs for delivery of care (69%),

* emergency department overcrowding (51%),

* diversions for more than four hours per week (26%),

* closing beds (25%),

* increased waiting time for surgery (11%), and

* reduction or elimination of services (6%).

Among the solutions developed to combat the shortage are contracts between hospitals and schools of nursing. Of the hospitals surveyed, 54% have agreements to provide clinical training to more than 25 RN nursing students per year. Eighty-one percent of the hospitals had hired at least one new graduate RN in the year 2000. According to the survey, the most effective strategies for recruitment and retention are increased and competitive salaries, educational opportunities, staff member satisfaction and input, bonuses, and flexible scheduling. The American Organization of Nurse Executives hopes that this survey data will be used to strengthen local, state, and national programs to address the nursing shortage.

New Survey Provides Insight into Nursing Field (news release, Washington, DC: American Organization of Nurse Executives, Jan 30, 2002).

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