Why Nurses Are Leaving the Profession
Nurses are working outside the profession in a wide range of different jobs, and dissatisfaction with the nursing workplace is one of the main reasons, according to a 2008 study "Nurses Working Outside of Nursing."
According to the study, of the 2.9 million registered nurses in the United States, 4.2 percent were working in non-nursing employment while 12.1 percent were not working in any employment whatsoever. Many reasons for not working in the nursing field were related to job satisfaction, with more than 27 percent of nurses saying nurse burnout or stressful work environment was the reason they stopped working, 27 percent said it was the physical demands, 20 percent reported inadequate staffing in hospitals, and 20 percent claimed that inconvenient scheduling was the reason they quit. Many nurses are also not working anymore because of personal reasons, with 38.4 percent leaving because of home and family obligations and 44.6 percent because they wanted to retire, reported the study. When it comes to the shortage nurse retirement is going to continue to affect the field in the future. According to a 2006 study "Nursing Management Aging Workforce Survey" by the Bernard Hodes Group, 55 percent of nurses that were surveyed said they intended on retiring between the year 2011 and 2020.
According to the report "The 2007 State of American's Hospitals -Taking the Pulse" by the American Hospital Association, hospitals will need 116,000 registered nurses to fill empty positions in the United States, which results in a vacancy rate of 8.1 percent. Although enrollment in nursing programs is slowing increasing each year, the number of students who are expected to graduate from these programs and become registered nurses is still not enough to bridge the nursing gap. Registered nurses leaving the profession is only contributing further to the nurse shortage problem and making it hard for those that do stay. In the 2005 study “Is the Shortage of Hospital RNs Getting Better or Worse?” more than 75 percent of registered nurses believed that the shortage was a major problem for the quality of patient care, the amount of time nurses can spend with their patients, and ultimately the quality of their work life. Ninety-eight of the nurses surveyed saw the shortage as a problem in the future increasing stress on nurses, 93 percent thought that it would lower the quality of care that patients receive, and 93 percent said it would eventually causes nurses to leave their profession.
Top Online Nursing Programs
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University of Phoenix - RN to BSN. 27 Nursing Degrees. Students interested in reaching their career goals in the healthcare industry as a nurse will reach them at the University of Phoenix. University of Phoenix allows working adults the convenience of taking classes when they can.
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South University - A.S. in Allied Health Science. As an accredited online college, South University offers a respectable Associate’s Degree in Allied Health Science for those seeking to pursue a career in healthcare. The program is offered completely online, allowing students to learn in their own time without sacrificing their current responsibilities.
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LA College - A.A. in Health Care Administration. With a handful of online health programs, LA College is a great choice for students seeking entry-level positions in the healthcare industry. Their Associate’s degree in Health Care Administration will provide students with the basis for a multitude of job opportunities in hospitals, doctor’s offices, clinics, and many others.
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Post University - BS in Mgmt. For Registered Nurses. Post University is dedicated in helping students achieve their personal and professional goals in a timely manner, allowing them to pursue their careers in healthcare more quickly. The Bachelor of Science in Management for Registered Nurses degree will prepare nurses to obtain administrative and management roles that require critical-thinking, decision-making, and leadership skills.
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Herzing University - BSN-Bridge Program. With nursing constituting as the largest healthcare occupation today, Herzing University has created quality nursing programs to fulfill the increasing demand in the industry. At Herzing, students receive hands-on training in order to help them enter the workforce with confidence.
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The College Network - 10 universities offering Nursing Degrees. The College Network is one of the nation's top providers in providing high quality nursing degrees online. Students have the opportunity to pursue a variety of HealthCare degrees that that will allow them to further their career in Nursing.
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Jones International University - B.A. in Health Care Mgmt. Jones International University offers a Bachelor’s program in Health Care Management that will help students become skilled and effective managers in the healthcare industry. Students could work in a variety of different settings upon completion of the program.
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Virginia College - BS in Health Services Management. Virginia College is dedicated in helping students achieve their goals and aspirations to advance in the health care industry. Their Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Management will prepare students for a variety of career options in assistant management or administrative positions within a healthcare facility.
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Western Governors University - B.S. in Nursing. Western Governors University is an accredited online university offering a variety of nursing and healthcare programs for students of all ages. Their Nursing program will incorporate patient education, health promotion, nursing roles, technology, and many other health related subjects.
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Baker College - B.S. in Nursing. Baker College allows students to complete their Nursing degree completely online, at their own pace and time. Their program provides current registered nurses with the opportunity to advance and continue their growth.
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Keiser University - B.A. in Health Services Administration. With several degree options in the healthcare field, Keiser University prepares students for a variety of positions in any healthcare setting. Their mission is to help students develop skills and knowledge that will prepare them for leadership positions upon graduation.
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Indiana State University - LPN to BSN. Students looking to jump start a career will find accredited an accredited RN to BSN nursing degree from the Indiana State University. Indiana State University was originally founded in 1865 and over this time has prepared thousands of students for new, exciting careers.
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