I think the response to the COVID-19 pandemic has opened many eyes to what has been predicted for more than 30 years. That is, our current processes, work environment, educational system, you name it, will not close the gap between the future demand for healthcare practitioners and the supply. Moreover, while technology might be a wonderful assistant, it can’t empathetically hold a patient’s hand!
Where have we gone wrong? In the 1980’s while I worked for the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (now the Florida Department of Health and others), I worked in the Office of Comprehensive Health Planning and one of our responsibilities was to evaluate and make recommendations about Florida’s supply of healthcare practitioners. Yes, now almost 40 years ago, we knew back then that we were going to need more doctors and nurses. Our growing population, our aging population all spelled out for us that we weren’t doing enough to keep up.
The pandemic brought those issues into clear focus. We managed through the first round of COVID and by the time we got to the Delta strain, there was no more hiding what was so obvious … the tenuous staffing situation had gone critical.
“According to an article in the Nursing Times, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that more than 275,000 additional nurses are needed from 2020 to 2030. Employment opportunities for nurses are projected to grow at a faster rate (9%) than all other occupations from 2016 through 2026.” In looking at the source documents on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website, over the next decade it is projected that there will be 194,500 job openings per year for registered nurses. I dare say that the pandemic has probably affected that number as greater numbers of experienced registered nurses have chosen to retire or to make a career change moving from direct patient care to administration.
So, what is the plan for meeting the need for additional healthcare professionals? While the statistics for nursing are more readily available, all health professions were impacted by the pandemic. It isn’t only more registered nurses we are seeking, but all healthcare practitioners.
Some things are being done to attempt to correct the situation. Florida has recently appropriated $125 million to help with nursing education. While this one time investment will help, everyone needs to be thinking about longer-term solutions. The challenges associated with healthcare staffing aren’t going to be solved in one day, one month, one year, or with one legislative appropriation but, rather, it is going to take long-term effort to make a difference.
Over the next few years, the SFHHA will be working with our community partners to explore the challenges and to construct sustainable solutions that will allow us to narrow the future gap between the supply and demand of healthcare practitioners.
