In January of 2002, California became the first state to adopt minimum nurse-to-patient ratios. Since then many states have followed suit. This trend towards increased state regulation of healthcare practices combined with the existing shortage of nursing professionals has left many hospitals in a difficult situation. Travel nurse agencies have helped many facilities maintain their appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios while providing qualified and skilled professionals specific to the facility's needs.

• "There are several distinct advantages to the travel model . . . Travel nurse staffing, which in 2000, accounted for approximately 20% of the nurse staffing market, includes placement of registered nurses on a contracted, fixed-term basis. Travel nurses provide a longer-term solution to a nurse shortage, present hospitals and other healthcare facilities with a pool of potential full-time job candidates and enable healthcare facilities to provide their patients with continuity of care. Assignments may vary from several weeks to one year, but are typically about three months in duration. The healthcare professional temporarily relocates to the geographic area of assignment. The staffing company generally is responsible for providing travel nurses with customary employment benefits and for coordinating travel and housing arrangements. Offices are geographically diverse. There are currently in excess of 16,000 nurses traveling on assignment, representing a small percentage of the total medical staffing marketplace. However, the sector is growing rapidly (GKB 6/2002).



• 56% of healthcare facilities nationwide are using agency or traveling nurses to fill vacancies (FCG).



• "Two studies released last week painted a grim picture of healthcare staffing in this country as more than one in seven hospitals reported they do not have enough registered nurses. Shortages reportedly exist and are worsening throughout the country. The national nurse vacancy rate of 13% will reach 15% by 2003, based on a 'very conservative' estimate, the report said. Growing rates of turnover among nurses are another problem for hospitals, the report concluded. Forty-two percent of hospitals said they have experienced higher rates of nurse turnover since 1999. The second report released last week confirmed some findings in the workforce shortage report. The AONE survey showed national vacancy rates for RN's range from 14.6% in critical-care units to 6.5% for nurse managers. Fifty-one percent of nurse executives polled said staff shortages have caused emergency department overcrowding and 25% reported having to close beds. (MH 2/4/2002)."



• Over one in seven hospitals report a severe shortage of nurses with more than 20% of RN positions vacant. RN vacancy rates have increased since 1999 for 60% of hospitals (FCG).



• According to a study published by Johnson & Johnson in February of 2002, there was a current estimated shortage of 126,000 registered nurses in hospitals nationwide--a dearth that is expected to grow to more than 400,000 vacancies in healthcare facilities by 2020 (MH 2/11/02).



• Over one-third (34%) of hospitals report increased patient complaints or decreased patient satisfaction because of the shortages. Over one-half (59%) report that RN's feel that it is more difficult to provide quality care due to the workforce shortage (FCG).



• It is not likely that demand for registered nurses will remain unchanged. In addition to the fact that demand has been rising in recent years, experts agree that as baby boomers age, they will require more nursing care, which will increase the growth in demand for skilled nurses in the coming years. Thus, a projected 15% vacancy rate in 2003 is a very conservative estimate (FCG).

Professional Nursing Service can help you meet your staffing needs today! Contact us now at info@professionalnurse.com or call (800) 777-6430.

The above information is taken from three sources; a healthcare workforce shortage study published by First Consulting Group in 2001, and articles from two Internet periodicals, Modern Healthcare (MH) and the financial group George K. Baum & Company (GKB).