The nursing shortage and specialty practice.
This paper has reviewed numerous factors contributing to the nursing shortage. These factors include changes in medical practice and the patient population, professional beliefs and objectives, and economic factors. Although many articles reviewed focus on the reasons for and solutions to the shortage, few note specifics regarding how the shortage may or may not impact on the quality of patient care. The impact of the shortage on specialty areas of nursing practice and specifically the area of peripheral vascular nursing was also reviewed. Although no recommendations were made for alleviating the shortage, recommendations for the preparation of the specialty nurse were discussed. The author agrees with Hoeffer and Murphy who state that the future of specialization is at the masters degree level. Also important is that the various nursing groups support professional credentialing and certification as a means of regulating specialty practice. Only through cooperation will nursing "specialization" be consistent in its definition as well as be recognized by nursing, other health care providers and the public as a meaningful credential.
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D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D009729:Nursing; D013041:Specialties, Nursing; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000451:nursing*; D000078329:Workforce