Will the Nurse Staffing Shortage Ever End? - What to Expect

Healthcare facilities need sufficient nursing staff to provide patients with a high quality of care. Unfortunately, keeping enough nurses on staff has become a critical issue because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. The pandemic has been around for two years, and people are growing tired of the current state of the healthcare industry. Many wonder, “what’s next?” In this article, we’ll take you through the current nurse staffing shortage landscape, and then we’ll take a peek at how things may progress as we move forward. 

The Nurse Staffing Crisis Continues

Ever since the COVID-19 virus picked up steam in 2020, we’ve seen a troubling healthcare landscape emerge - one that’s full of unpredictability and insufficiency. There aren’t enough nurses to handle the onslaught of COVID patients. In fact, per recent nursing shortage statistics from the American Nurses Association, the U.S. will be at a shortage of more than 1 million registered nurses in 2022. 

This shortage translates to diminished patient outcomes and even a total lack of care in some cases. As the nursing shortage remains persistent, facilities will need to look for lasting solutions to close the nurse staffing gap. 

The Culprits Behind the Nurse Shortage

There are several culprits to blame for this ongoing nurse shortage, and we’ll look at the top ones here in this section: 

• The spread of the virus. Everyone’s getting sick - nurses aren’t exempt. With such a transmissible virus as COVID-19, nurses are catching COVID from patients at an alarming rate. This is no surprise, being that the vast majority of patients who end up in the hospital are unvaccinated and most likely to pass the virus on.
• Subpar working conditions for nurses. It was hard to be a nurse before, but now it's much more difficult. Many nurses, especially those who work in COVID-19 units, are working abnormally long hours and lengthy consecutive shifts. They also work alongside others who are equally stressed and overworked. Not to mention the deadly nature of COVID and the sheer amount of death some nurses see every day. Eventually, the stress and inherent danger of the profession lead nurses to quit. 
• An aging population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the population is aging, with tens of millions of people aged 65+. And the older people get, the higher their risk of developing chronic conditions that require healthcare services. In addition, the risk of severe health consequences from COVID increases with an individual’s age. Together, these factors create an even greater need for nurses.
• More people have access to healthcare. Healthcare reform, the Affordable Care Act, in particular, has made it possible for more people to get health insurance and obtain professional healthcare. As a result, the need for nurses has grown further. 

There are other factors contributing to the nurse shortage, but these are among the most significant.

The Consequences of the Nurse Shortage in the U.S. 

Nurse shortages spark many negative consequences for the healthcare industry. When there aren’t enough hands on deck to treat and cure the sick, here are some of the consequences that come into play: 

1. Increased patient mortality rates and a higher incidence of preventable accidents. Because nurses are so overworked, they are more likely to overlook patients in need. 
2. Longer stays for patients because of inadequate care provision. 
3. Burnout among nurses, as mentioned earlier, often develops in response to extreme workloads, long working hours, and more. 
4. Longer patient wait times.
5. Increased costs associated with nursing staff. Because of the skyrocketing demand for nurses, facilities are now paying a premium to fill their nurse rosters. They are offering higher pay, sign-on bonuses, and more, which translates to a substantial financial hit to healthcare organizations. 

What’s Next?

Perhaps the most prominent driver of the nursing shortage is the COVID-19 virus and the sharp increase in nursing demand that follows each surge. And if you ask infectious disease experts and doctors what we can expect going forward, most will say that it’s impossible to predict. COVID-19 is an erratic virus that mutates at a staggering rate. All it takes is another highly transmissible variant to throw the healthcare industry for another loop. 

So, we sit in a spot of uncertainty concerning how the nursing shortage will progress. It could improve if certain COVID-19 mitigation goals are met. However, if a vaccine-resistant variant should emerge, the reverse could happen, and the nursing shortage could worsen further. 

What Healthcare Facilities Can Do About the Nurse Staffing Shortage

What is a facility to do in such an unstable nurse staffing landscape? The answer is simple. Get with a reliable nurse staffing agency and use their services as needed. We have no choice but to accept two things: (1) that the nursing shortage could be a long-term issue and (2) that facilities have no control over many of the factors that drive the nurse shortage. 

But not just any nurse staffing agency will do. Here are some qualities to look for in a good nurse staffing agency: 

• Fair pricing. Often, even with nurse staffing, you get what you pay for. Going for an agency that charges the lowest rates could end up hurting your facility in the end. So, look for a healthy balance of price and quality. 
• Nurse variety. To fulfill your organization's ongoing needs, you may need a staffing agency to provide travel nurses, per diem nurses, and temp/temp-to-perm nurses. Ensure that the agency you're considering has access to the types of nurses you’ll need. 
• Placement speed. Ask staffing agency representatives how long it usually takes to fill different nursing positions and then plan accordingly. 
• Nurse skill and accountability. An agency that doesn't properly screen, interview, or train its nurses in accountability may not be of much assistance to your agency.

In this problematic healthcare environment, most facilities are in a tight spot when it comes to achieving adequate nurse staffing numbers. But you can help to offset the shortage by seeking out additional staff via a quality staffing agency.