For many years, the U.S. health care system has been the leader of the world. High technological equipment and continuously updated professional skills have supported the U.S. healthcare system to become the best. However, being the most advanced does not mean that it is a perfect system for the whole country. Nurse shortages, lack of universal health care and the extremely high cost of health care services and drug prescriptions are three primary problems that are of the most concerned for our health care system in the next decade.
First, nursing shortages is not a new issue in our health care system. Indeed, it was one of the largest concerns in the US health care system over 15 years ago. The critical shortage of nurses, especially hospital-based nurses, has forced 10 to 30 percent of the nation’s hospitals to temporary close emergency rooms and some others facilities. Last year, the American Hospital Association’s Center for Nursing surveyed 1,466 hospitals and found that 15% had delayed elective surgery, 18% had turned away patients, and 3.6% had temporarily closed emergency rooms due to the shortage of nurses (New York Times). In 2005, it was indicated that there was a 10% shortage of nurses in the U.S. If this percentage were not addressed, it would grow critically to a 27% shortage in 2015 and 36% in 2020 (p.396). Even though Congress has tried to improve the situation by increasing nurses’ salaries, give more Federal financial aid to students in nursing schools and make sure hospitals have enough Federal funds to recruit and retain nurses, there are still only a temporary solutions. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2012. In addition, the US Department of Labor has identified Registered Nursing as the top occupation with regards to job growth in 2012.
Besides the nursing shortage problem, the US health care system is faced with another issue, which is the extremely high... [continues]
First, nursing shortages is not a new issue in our health care system. Indeed, it was one of the largest concerns in the US health care system over 15 years ago. The critical shortage of nurses, especially hospital-based nurses, has forced 10 to 30 percent of the nation’s hospitals to temporary close emergency rooms and some others facilities. Last year, the American Hospital Association’s Center for Nursing surveyed 1,466 hospitals and found that 15% had delayed elective surgery, 18% had turned away patients, and 3.6% had temporarily closed emergency rooms due to the shortage of nurses (New York Times). In 2005, it was indicated that there was a 10% shortage of nurses in the U.S. If this percentage were not addressed, it would grow critically to a 27% shortage in 2015 and 36% in 2020 (p.396). Even though Congress has tried to improve the situation by increasing nurses’ salaries, give more Federal financial aid to students in nursing schools and make sure hospitals have enough Federal funds to recruit and retain nurses, there are still only a temporary solutions. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2012. In addition, the US Department of Labor has identified Registered Nursing as the top occupation with regards to job growth in 2012.
Besides the nursing shortage problem, the US health care system is faced with another issue, which is the extremely high... [continues]
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(2008, 11). Top Three Primary Health Care Concers for the U.S. in the Next Decade. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 11, 2008, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Top-Three-Primary-Health-Care-Concers-179610.html
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"Top Three Primary Health Care Concers for the U.S. in the Next Decade." StudyMode.com. 11, 2008. Accessed 11, 2008. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Top-Three-Primary-Health-Care-Concers-179610.html.
