Joinng the ranks: nurses as role models.
The average age of today's nurse is 45. The average age of today's nurse educator is 55. Not only is the mean age of nurses increasing, but the United States is also facing a national nursing shortage crisis--with fewer and fewer nurses both in the field and entering the profession. Massive advertising campaigns highlighting flexible nursing opportunities, increased incentives from health care agencies in need of nurses, and newly created flexible shift opportunities for nurses include strategies aimed at addressing this shortage. Fortunately, nursing education programs are seeing an increase in applicants, and many schools of nursing are filling their slots for new students to capacity. But this problem will not be solved by solely tempting new recruits.
Davidhizar
Ruth
R
Bethel College, Mishawaka, IN, USA. rdavidhiza@aol.com
D004506:Education, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D009013:Morale; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology / Q000600:supply & distribution; D011209:Power, Psychological; D014481:United States