Researcher calls for collective action to address nursing shortage

To avert a “Category 5” nursing shortage, hospitals, nurses, thought leaders and policymakers must address the potential long-range impacts of negative depictions of nurses and hospitals, wrote Peter Buerhaus, PhD, RN, professor of nursing and director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Health Workforce Studies at Montana State University College of Nursing in Bozeman, in the September/October issue of Nursing Economic$. “We need to regroup and commit to fixing current and longstanding problems together,” he added, “rethinking and planning for improving patient care in a post-COVID world, and supporting one another to achieve our aspirations for a better future.” His essay also includes a discussion of pre-pandemic factors contributing to a shortage of hospital nurses.