New York's Nursing Shortage

As Congress focuses on comprehensive health care reform, one thing needs to be clear: We cannot fix health care if we do not address America's nursing shortage. If we're going to be able to provide access to quality, affordable health care to every American - we need to have the trained health care professionals inside hospitals to provide that care.

We have a serious nursing shortage in New York State and right here in New York City. Hospitals and other health care providers are experiencing vacancies today, and over the next 10 years, we're on a path for the problem to only get worse as the need for nurses grows.

The numbers are startling. My office recently released a report showing that in New York City, we'll need 59,694 more nurses over the next 10 years to provide quality care for our families.

Part of the problem is that our nurses population is getting older. When we studied the boroughs we found that in Brooklyn and Queens, almost 19 percent of the nurses are over the age of 55 and will likely enter retirement over the next decade. But we lack a sufficient number of incoming nurses to take their place upon retirement and there is already a 7.5 percent vacancy rate across the city.

New York is not alone. Communities in every corner of America struggle to fill nursing vacancies to provide care for everyone who needs it.

According to the Center for Health Workforce Studies, New York has substantially fewer registered nurses per capita than the national average. The root of the problem is that nursing institutions just do not have the faculty and physical space available to train the nurses we need.

When my office reached out to the College of Staten Island in Staten Island, they reported that their college admits about 125 out of 400 applicants. While many applicants are not qualified, many other applicants are turned away because there is a lack of classroom space and inadequate faculty supply.

In fact, Brooklyn's own Kings County Hospital has not graduated a class of nursing students since the late 1970s. This fall will mark the first class of nursing students the institution has had in decades.

Earlier this month, I unveiled my plan to make sure we have the amount of trained nurses we need to be able to provide quality care to children and families for the long term.

First, we'll increase nursing faculty by offering 100 percent loan repayment for nurses who choose a faculty role and train the next generation of nurses.

Second, we'll provide grants to nursing institutions so they can accept more qualified students -- and we'll make sure these institutions have the space to train them.

Third, we'll incentivise nurse practitioners and other providers to work in undeserved areas. President Obama's economic recovery plan included $300 million for the National Health Service Corps to recruit more nurses. I'll continue the charge in the Senate and work for more investments, and encourage more nurses to work in areas that need new nurses the most.

And as the last step in my plan, we'll make smart, long term investments to develop a robust nursing workforce to make sure we're on a sturdy path to our health care future.

Nurses are on the front lines of our care. And they need to be at the foundation of health care reform. Let's get health care done - and done right - by ensuring the amount of nurses we need to provide quality care for all.

Comments

[TXfemmom]

I was an RN, Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner for over 25 years before becoming disabled. The problem is that Universities and their faculties, as in English, etc. professors, resent paying RN faculty enough to become faculty. That must change.

Then, the government needs to divert adequate amounts of money from physician training in certain specialties into nursing expansion programs. We have a glut of certain fields in medicine, yet they continue to turn out specialists and hog the money, when basic nursing programs and primary care fields need to be expanded. Give the nursing schools enough money to pay faculty and turn out twice as many nurses and provide free grants to medical graduates who enter primary care fields.

[expired]

Health Care: The Public Plan Option

These Democratic Senators have NOT agreed to support it:
Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Senator Tom Carper (D-DE)

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL)

Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND)

Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN)

Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR)

Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

These names are reported by The Hill here and here

Update: Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) says she supports a public option.
Update: Senator Jeff Binghaman (D-NM) says he supports a public option.

You can also contact the White House and voice your opinion
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414

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On The Show
Coming up Thursday, July 9, 2009
•Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD) joins the show to talk about health care reform
•Joint Economic Committee Chair Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) joins the show to discuss the latest on the economy, and the NY Senate seat race
•Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern joins the show to discuss their stance on taxing health care benefits, and the overall health care reform package
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
•Huffington Post blogger and KRXA AM 540/Monterey, CA talk show host Karel joined the show to talk about Michael Jackson's funeral
•Ploughshares Fund President Joe Cirincione joined the show to talk about the President's overseas trip

[Human-Being]

As an RN I wouldn't recommend my profession to anyone, unless you like to spend your days in hell! It is exactly where you will find yourself if you work in a hospital that is short staffed.

I did and we worked short staffed even when there wasn't a shortage in our area because of 4 nearby nursing schools. And my local one just lost almost all of its Ob/Gyn nurses to the state prison system (where I am now) because the retirement is better. What a waste of talent and an alarming lack of safety for the new mothers and babies because a hospital is willing to sacrifice care for dollars.

It's time for hospitals to recognize nurses as more than bed pan delivery people, we literally hold your patients asses in our hands, so start paying us accordingly.

[llisa]

I agree. Having been a patient and the mother and wife of patients many times, I kiss the ground nurses walk on.

[jeffrey678]

Senator Gillibrand I live in New York. The problem is the working conditions of Nurses. The local Veterans Administration Hospitals have no problem finding Nurses. The private Hospitals are always short of nurses. Private Hospitals can save a lot of money in benefits, retirement, and holiday pay if they keep their staffs short and turnover high. I don't expect you to acknowledge any of this because of the political campaign contributions you receive from Hospital Administrators is so large.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

That's all well and fine, but I'm still supporting Carolyn Maloney in the Senatorial campaign.

[apoyo]

Pass the DREAM ACT.

You'll have a sizable nursing force there.
All home grown. No language barrier.
No need to import anybody.

And increase pay for nursing professor's.

[fairandjust]

It is not just a Nurses shortage - it is really a "Nurse Appreciation Shortage."

It is about High Nurse - Patients ratios, Hospitals treating Nurse contract negotiations poorly, and other poor treatment of nurses.

It is ALL about the FOR-PROFIT Health Care system that we currently have.

Profits do not care about Nurses, or Patients, or the Uninsured, or anyone else but their hefty management paychecks.

Wake Up Americans - We Need REAL Health Care Reform - call your Senators - Toll Free Capitol switchboard 1-800-828-0498

[GardenerNorCal]

I agree you think Wall St. big shots are retraining to change bed pans or deal with patient needs? No Nurses aren't worthy of respect or adequate pay why should this surprise anyone. You think our young girls are standing in line waiting for poor paying jobs demand long hours and that command no respect? Thing is these jobs can't be outsourced, but yeah I am sure you can find illegal aliens to do them for less, thing is when the patient needs help can they understand the patient? But I am sure economically it makes sense.

[chinohillster]

One aspect of the healthcare debate in this country I have rarely seen discussed (and several previous posters have alluded to it) - is the sheer COST of health-related professions' training. I think that (a) No one below the age of 30 should be admitted to medical school - how can someone who has mostly gone to school for 20 years have the chance to gain LIFE EXPERIENCE, and the ability to relate to people at various life stages? (b) Medical/Nu­rsing/Dent­al/Pharmac­y/etc school should be FREE to QUALIFIED applicants, who would repay the cost of their training by spending 4 years in underserved areas, and after serving their obligation, would be free and clear to develop their practices and/or careers.

[llisa]

I like--except for the over-30 part. That would cause more of a shortage since it takes so long to become a doctor. No one wants to begin his/her career at 40. But I would certainly approve classes and mandated experience in treating people as fellow humans and not as pieces of meat or diseases or conditions.

[chinohillster]

I take my hat off to all nurses....my husband died, recently, and before his death (he died at home, with hospice), he was in the hospital, part of the time in a Critical Care Unit. Between the patients' needs, paperwork, doctors' requests, equipment issue (the CCU reminded me of the bridge of the Enterprise) - the nurses were working their butts off!

It was the _nurses_ that made my husband comfortable, turning him, changing him (he was totally non-ambulatory), cleaning him, monitoring him - the doctor would just come in for 5 minutes or less, once a day or so. I watched the nurses constantly having to deal with the monitors, re-setting them, re-calibrating them (the SpO2, in particular) in addition to all their other duties - it was something else!

[apoyo]

Thank you.

[Kaek]

Lack of insurance, cuts in reimbursement, and market losses are creating havoc for hospitals across the country. Hospitals are being forced to cut back on their staff, and nurses in many areas are being laid off. Our graduating nurses are having problems finding jobs. People interested in nursing are starting to look at other careers, and the numbers going into it will eventually dwindle. The (hopefully) short term business problem in the hospitals have the potential to create an even greater nursing shortage in the long term.

[MidwestMomma]

Turning out nurses is only a bandaid on our future needs problem. Attracting and retaining "competent" caregivers with improved working conditions is vital. Here's a fact. Working in healthcare except in the highest levels is a "icky" job. You're required to work holidays, weekends and shift work and deal with every type of human being and their functions while they are at their very worst. Add to that the now always having to beg to get what you need under the" for profit" business model and the best folks, those with options, bail out in droves.

Just a heads up! With the shortages in the news, employers are demanding larger patient loads which is sending even more of us boomer employees out the door early, myself included.

[hellenhat]

The medical community made a huge mistake in the late 70's, early 80's. They began to phase out hospital trained nurses by requiring this degree and that degree. Now, there are very few to none of this schools left....not just nurses, but x-ray techs, lab techs, etc. All hospital trained and very, very good.
Just because you have a BA or MA in nursing, does not mean you know how to give a shot, empty a bedpan, give a back rub, or just listen. It is time to re think the process of training nurses. Until a commitment to all education at the junior and four year college level is made, this country will always be behind.....we don't have to continue to be at the back of the pack with nurses.

[Terri Watt]

We are not talking about just hospital nurses. That is fine if you want nurses to work there however, there is a wide world of nurses out there. Hospital trained nurses would not work will outside of the hospital.

[t9chi]

What are you talking about? Some say BSN nurses don't work very good on the floor. Their better behind a desk. That's when nursing started going down hill, when they started that degree crap. We defeat ourselves.

[Hoelder]

I find this article quite disingenuous. I know some nurses that rather stock shelves in the supermarket. It is pay and ungodly hours. When the jerk who calls himself doctor pushes his dirty work down to the nurses, he walks to his Mercedes while the nurses are taping the door to their 15 year old CIVIC. There are plenty of nurses! From the Philippines, etc. or from California. It is easy to find on the map. It is like finding good teachers: they work in IT. Don't complain about about nurses. My in law is a CNA. He makes more as a security guard. Guess what he does?

[drgrph]

Thanks for being one who actually understands healthcare and the necessity of adequate providers. The question I have is whether you can effectively communicate this to your colleagues. As I understand the current debate we're discussion "insurance" coverage and "universal" coverage. While these do need to be addressed, as it stands this country is about to put the cart before the horse. You cannot "expand" coverage without expanding the amount of healthcare providers.

I've had extensive opportunity to see how this might effect our healthcare system first hand being in our nation's long-term care (aka nursing homes) facilities. For several decades I was a consultant pharmacist and daily entered these facilities. Believe me, while well intended, the increased regulations and other unfunded mandates have not benefited our elderly...unless they have the resources to buy into the more luxurious facilities.

I ask you to do all you can to make our elected officials aware of these shortages and the need to address this first. I'd point out that unless we outsource by taking the best providers from other nations, it takes 4 yrs to obtain a BS in Nursing, 6 for a Pharm. D., and God knows how many for a physician. This has to be the priority to avoid another failed bill from this Congress.

p.s. Sadly, I was able to talk my daughter out of pursing a nursing degree. Why? 'Cause I thoroughly believe Congress doesn't get it and will put the cart first.

[mdllzx]

Just an Idea, though someone else might have offered this: If you really think that your state needs more nurses then have you offered your own money to help attract nurses? I am sure a hospital would accept a check from a US Senator to increase the pay of a nurse and thus help attract a nurse that otherwise might have gone elsewhere. And this solution can be tried today!

[schatsie]

These hospitals have plenty of money already...Nurses get only 20% of the total cost in the hospital and I have no clue why it costs another 80%.....food yes. room yes...But we do not need ot provide care in the Ritz Carleton, we do not need to pay the CEO and his buddies all 10 of them more than all the nurses in the hospital combined (in no way can you ignore the benefits for the CEOs and the enablers)

We need to have public information on every non-profit hospital as to the take at the top....

Also there are 500,000 trained nurses who are no longer nursing, there is no shortage of nurses, there is a shortage of decent working conditions and pay for experience.. Take a look at the nurses in Seattle where the union makes sure that staffing is reasonable, and that experience is recognized and there are significant pay premiums for off regular hours work.... There is no shortage there......

[lonecrone]

But dear, if the hospital administrators were not highly paid, they might have to take their kids out of private school and drive used cars as the nurses do. They might even miss their tee times at the club if they have to work harder for less money. How can you even suggest they make such sacrifices!