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The nursing shortage: dynamics and solutions. Solutions in a pluralistic environment
1US Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, D.C.
The Nursing Clinics of North America
|September 1, 1990
Summary
The US nursing shortage will be resolved through characteristic "muddling through" in health policy, despite differing opinions on its causes and solutions. This approach reflects America
Area of Science:
- Health Policy
- Nursing Workforce Studies
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- The US healthcare system is characterized by pluralism, lacking monolithic national solutions.
- Unlike European countries, the United States does not have a unified national health policy.
- The nursing shortage is exacerbated by disagreements among stakeholders regarding its origins and remedies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the factors contributing to the nursing shortage in the United States.
- To predict the resolution of the nursing shortage within the context of American health policy.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the historical context of US health and education environments.
- Examination of stakeholder perspectives on the nursing shortage.
- Forecasting based on the concept of "muddling through" in policy-making.
Main Results:
- The pluralistic nature of US healthcare prevents monolithic solutions.
- Divergent opinions among nurses, physicians, and hospitals complicate problem-solving.
- The nursing shortage is predicted to be resolved through a process of "muddling through".
Conclusions:
- The characteristic American approach to policy-making, "muddling through," is expected to resolve the nursing shortage.
- Resolution is anticipated by 1993, despite the complexities and disagreements.
- The study highlights the unique challenges of addressing health workforce issues in a decentralized system.