A nurse—whether working in a family clinic or large hospital—is responsible for a majority of patient care. Nurses perform some of the most important duties during a patient’s stay at the hospital, from monitoring vital signs to administering necessary medications. Nurses also provide a human face to what can sometimes be a cold, sterile environment. However, in recent years there has been a vast shortage of nurses in the healthcare industry. In fact, this shortage is expected to increase dramatically over the next few years.

Estimates show that approximately 72 percent of hospital supervisors reported a nursing shortage at their facilities in October 2004. A previous report also estimated that in the year 2000, approximately 30 states experienced a nursing shortage. Unfortunately, these numbers are only increasing. One startling statistic estimates that by the year 2020, over 44 states and the District of Columbia will be experiencing a shortage of registered nurses, or......

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Title: The Nursing Shortage
Approximate Word Count: 341
Approximate Pages: 2 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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