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Impact of Shortages
According to hospital executives, the shortage of RNs has already had debilitating effects on the ability to provide quality health care. In some cases, hospital operations have been radically scaled back to cope with the shortage of nurses:50
- In 2001, 69 percent of hospital executives reported that their shortage of nursing staff had resulted in higher costs to deliver care.
- 51 percent of hospitals reported that nurse shortages resulted in ER overcrowding; 26 percent had adopted ER diversion policies an average of four hours per week.
- 25 percent of hospitals were forced to close beds in 2001 due to insufficient nursing staff, and 23 percent restricted admissions.
- 19 percent of hospitals increased waiting time for surgeries, and 10 percent were forced to cancel surgeries.
- 17 percent of hospitals reported other effects, such as overtime work, lower morale, higher stress, and decreased quality of care.
- 12 percent delayed time for discharge and increased length of stay.
- 8 percent curtailed acquisition of new technology and 7 percent cut back on expansion plans.
- About one-third (34 percent) of hospitals reported increased patient complaints or decreased patient satisfaction because of nurse shortages.
- Well over half (59 percent) reported that RNs feel it is more difficult to provide quality care because of the workforce shortage.
- Only 10 percent of hospitals reported little or no effect on operations from RN staff shortages.
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