Health care workforce priorities: what nursing should do now

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.