(NAPSA)—Medical care experts believe it’s time Americans took a healthy interest in what’s happening in the nursing profession. Nurses comprise the single largest component of hospital staffs. They are the primary providers of hospital patient care and play a prominentrole in the outcomeof a patient’s health. The Problem America’s nurses are getting older—and scarcer. According to a new study by the American Nurses Association, the average age of nurses is 43. Night shifts, long hours and inflexible work conditions are what they get—but not what they want. These conditions are contributing to a serious nurs- ing shortage and it’s predicted it will only get worse. In fact, 75 percent of the nurses surveyed said the quality of nursing care has declined in the last two years as a result of inadequate staffing and increased patient care load. “Increasingly, nurses take care of higher patient loads, and the patients are sicker,” said Fran Smith, a registered nurse and the senior director of Kelly Healthcare Resources, a national staffing service. “Many places make nurses work mandatory overtime, and that is very difficult for your personal life. It’s demanding, and after a while, you get to the point where the downside outweighs the positive side.” A Solution A major trend in nursing is nurses turning to staffing services for a flexible work schedule, benefits and higherpay. “Staffing companies are providing more job opportunities and the ability to Staffing companies mean more job opportunities, choice of responsibilities, and flexibility for nurses and more peace-of-mind for them andtheir patients. choose job responsibilities without being expected to put in excessive amounts of overtime,” said Smith. Staffing companies let nurses select their own schedules and surroundings and allow them to build their own career path. “Nurses can maintain their skills by working as a hospital nurse three days a week and in other, less stressful, nursing roles for the remainder. They work in areas they are interested in— and are able to choose where and when they will work. In this case job satisfaction rises as well as the numbersof nurses that will remain in the nursing workforce,” added Smith. Free Information Nurses and potential patients can find out more about Kelly Healthcare Resources. Call 1-888GO-KELLYor visit www.kellyser vices.com.
