Seeking solutions to the nursing shortage

There continues to be a severe nursing shortage across the United States, and in the Carolinas it's no different.

As the calls to solve the nursing shortage get louder, Jennifer Church - a registered nurse at Piedmont Medical Center - is reminded that this profession is full of purpose.

“It just felt right,” Church said. “Even on the worst, worst day of COVID I never second guessed my career.”

But these days, there are fewer nurses in health care systems.

“It’s physically, emotionally, and mentally very tough," Church said.

According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, data reveals that 100,000 nurses left the workforce during the pandemic, and by 2027, almost 900,000 -or about one-fifth of 4.5 million total registered nurses - intend to leave the workforce.

Experts say that could create challenges to the care we receive.

“You really can’t do much without a nurse, nurses are the conduit between the doctors and the patients," Janet Bright, Chief Nursing Officer at Piedmont Medical Center, said.

Bright acknowledges the hardships the career can bring but says they're working to build community support, flexibility, and safety education. She says this effort is critical.

[taliafuller]

My friend is a nurse and she said it was a very toxic work environment where she works.

[Matt-fluy]

"Nurses eat their own" was a phrase I heard when I met one of the meanest people I've ever worked with in a prior role and then asked why they were that way. Just saying, the cultural rot starts from within.

[chrisdane.]

The law of supply and demand applies here as well. Want more nurses? Pay us more!
Its not that hard

[janelane-qc]

the obly shortage there is, is nurses willing to work in unsafe low paid jobs

[carldahlen]

Most will not come back the system is broken we need less beaurocracy and protocal and more common sense

[rzhang]

Fake! I am international nurse who never find a job