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4. Despite these trends, most RNs are satisfied
with being a nurse and would recommend nursing to others
as a career choice. Younger nurses -- and those with
higher levels of education -- are even more likely to
recommend nursing as a profession. And, despite some
evidence of strain in the working relationships between
nurses and management, RNs overwhelmingly agree that
patient care remains a priority at the organization
where they work. (Tables ES-4a, ES-4b, and ES-6a)
- Nearly eight out of ten RNs describe themselves
as "very" (37%) or "moderately"
(40%) satisfied with being a nurse, with only one
in eight saying that they are dissatisfied. And, seven
out of ten RNs say that they are "very"
(21%) or "moderately" (50%) satisfied with
their current nursing position.
- Most (60%) RNs say that they would advise a high
school or college student to pursue nursing as a career
choice.
5. Along with these positive views toward nursing,
opportunities clearly exist to attract and retain more
RNs as working nurses. Many RNs who plan to leave their
present jobs in the next few years say they would consider
staying - and many others who have left nursing altogether
say they would consider returning - if certain conditions
were met. Among these conditions are better compensation,
an improved work environment, better hours and more
respect from management. Nurses with no immediate plans
to leave echo many of these same sentiments. (Tables
ES-5a and ES-5b)
- Among respondents who plan to leave their present
nursing position within the next three years:
 A
majority (58%) say that higher salary or benefits
would be "very likely" to cause them to
reconsider their plans to leave their current position.
Virtually
half say that better staffing (50%) and more respect
from management (48%) would be very likely to cause
them to reconsider.
- Among respondents who are not working as paid nurses,
Almost
half (45%) said that a less stressful work environment
would be "very likely" to cause them to
consider returning to work as a nurse.
Just
over one-quarter said that higher wages (29%) or
better hours (28%) would be very likely to cause
them to consider returning to work as a nurse.
- At least six out of ten of all RNs think that the
following would help a "great deal" to solve
the nursing shortage:
Improved
working environments (83%)
Improved
wages and benefits (79%)
Higher
status of nurses in the hospital environment (70%)
Better
hours (58%)
6. Attracting and retaining nurses in the face
of a shortage will surely be a challenge. Reducing stress
in the work environment - a leading cause of nurses
leaving the profession prior to retirement - will be
particularly difficult because this stress is a result
as well as a cause of the shortage. Still, even as the
shortage continues, steps could be taken to reduce stress
by giving RNs more say in workplace decisions; more
opportunities for professional development; more recognition;
and a physically safer and more accommodating workplace.
(Tables ES-6a, ES-6b, and ES-6c)
- A majority of RNs agree that:
"my
job is often so stressful that I feel burned out"
(59%) and
"my
job involves so many non-nursing tasks that little
time remains for nursing" (55%)
- And, at least half of all nurses rate their current
work setting as only "fair" or "poor"
as far as:
Opportunities
to influence decisions about workplace organization
(56%)
Opportunities
for professional development and advancement (55%)
Recognition of accomplishments and work well done
(54%)
- In addition, substantial numbers of RNs say that
in the past year, they have personally experienced:
Back
or other musculoskeletal injuries (34%)
Exposure
to blood-borne pathogens, including needle sticks
(31%)
Episodes
of violence in the workplace (28%)
Sexual
harassment or a hostile work environment related
to physicians (19%) or other staff (19%)
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