The nursing shortage. Implications for military nurses

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Workforce Dynamics
• Nursing Economics
• Military Health Systems

Background:

• Persistent nursing vacancies are projected for the next decade, indicating a potential long-term shortage.
• Unlike previous cyclical shortages, the current nursing deficit may not self-correct.
• Military nurses are a critical component of the healthcare industry, making their staffing levels significant.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze five major factors contributing to the ongoing nursing shortage.
• To examine the impact of these factors on the military nursing force.
• To demonstrate that the military healthcare system is also affected by the nursing deficit.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of five key factors identified as drivers of the nursing shortage.
• Application of these factors to the specific context of military nursing.
• Qualitative assessment of the impact on military healthcare services.

Main Results:

• Five significant factors have been identified as causes and perpetuators of the nursing shortage.
• These factors demonstrably affect the military nursing force.
• The analysis confirms that the military healthcare system experiences the effects of the current nursing shortage.

Conclusions:

• The nursing shortage is a complex, non-cyclical issue with far-reaching implications.
• The identified factors exacerbate the shortage within the military nursing corps.
• Addressing these factors is crucial for maintaining adequate healthcare services in both civilian and military sectors.