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Health care workforce priorities: what nursing should do now
1Center for Health Services and Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6096.
Summary
The overall supply of nurses is adequate, but the educational preparation needs improvement. More nurses with baccalaureate and higher degrees are needed for evolving healthcare roles.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Nursing Workforce Analysis
- Healthcare Policy
Background:
- Anticipated changes in healthcare delivery necessitate a review of the nursing workforce.
- The current educational mix of nurses may not align with future healthcare demands.
- Understanding the nursing supply and educational composition is crucial for effective healthcare planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the adequacy of the aggregate nursing supply.
- To evaluate the appropriateness of the nursing educational mix.
- To identify priority areas for nursing contributions in healthcare reform.
Main Methods:
- Appraisal of aggregate nurse supply.
- Analysis of the educational composition of the nursing workforce.
- Identification of key areas for nursing's role in healthcare improvement.
Main Results:
- The aggregate supply of nurses is deemed adequate.
- The educational mix is deficient, particularly lacking nurses with baccalaureate and higher degrees.
- Five priority areas for nursing contribution were identified.
Conclusions:
- While the quantity of nurses is sufficient, the quality of their education requires enhancement to meet future healthcare needs.
- Baccalaureate-prepared nurses are essential for new and expanding roles in healthcare.
- Nursing has critical roles in hospital restructuring, primary care, academic health centers, underserved populations, and public health redesign.