title: The nursing shortage as a community transformational opportunity.
abstract: The nursing shortage is continuing toward its projected peak in 2010. As a profession we seem unable to devise effective strategies to enhance growth and overcome this looming crisis. By focusing on predictable barriers using methods of reductionism, nurses may have forgotten the biggest barrier: the challenge of creating a holistic professional group presence and inclusive nursing stance. Without first addressing and solving internal paradoxical identity struggles, nursing will continue to try to overcome the multiple internal and external barriers that resulted in the current shortage. This article discusses the group dynamics that have fostered the cyclic loop of nursing shortage situations and explores the reflection and inquiry needed to formulate a cohesive national nursing group posture.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Carey S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D020380:Needs Assessment; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D011209:Power, Psychological; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D012938:Social Perception; D012945:Social Values; D014481:United States