Cause and Effect of the Nursing ShortageAnd what can be done about it

The nursing shortage poses a major problem to the quality of work life for nurses, the quality of patient care and the outcome of patient care. Well, at least 75% of nurses believe this, anyway.

What is causing the growing shortage of nurses in America? Is it the stigma that nursing is a woman’s job? Is it that cultural diversity is not openly embraced in the nursing profession by patients and other medical staff? And since there is such a significant shortage of nurses in America, why is it so complicated, time consuming and expensive to get into nursing school?

Nursing is one of the fasted growing fields of employment (believed by some experts to be the fastest). However, there are more people leaving the nursing field than entering it. The nursing population is aging and retiring; and many nurses are switching professions.

A big contributing factor to this lack people entering the nursing profession is the extensive, complicated and expensive process nursing schools put you through to enter. Many schools tell you to go on a wait list and make you take thousands of dollars in classes before you can even be put on the wait list. But they somehow forget to mention that bit of information. They just tell you that you’re on the waiting list while you are taking all the extra classes. Every five or so years your credits will become too old and you will have to retake classes. So basically you throw away that time you spent away from your family. Not to mention the thousands of dollars you have spent for the classes. It can end up take 4 to 7 years for some people to get their 2 year RN degree.

As Joy Potter states in her book Get Your RN Faster, “Achieving the dream can be a nightmare.”  (I highly recommend this book for anyone who’s looking to become a Registered Nurse).

The results of the lack of licensed nurses in our hospitals are grim. Nurses today are faced with the challenge of caring for an increased number of patients that is surpassing general recommendations for patient loads. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) this work load is increasing the mortality rate of patients by 31% in surgical patients. (Association, The Journal of the American Medical, 2002).

            In addition to increased patient death, the nursing shortage is believed to be contributing to the occurrence of hospital acquired infections. Hospital acquired infections are responsible for over 50,000 death annually.

            The nursing shortage has resulted in inadequate time is taken for patient and family teaching and other forms of communication to the patient such as emotional support.  According to a study performed by the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA), the nursing shortage had contributed to a compromise in patient communication by an estimated 14.5% (Pilla, 1999). Patient assessments, observation and monitoring are not completed as adequately and as often as necessary to minimize patient risk. The compromise in patient monitoring has reached about 70% as a result of the nursing shortage. On top of that, nurses are forced to regularly skip or postpone scheduled lunches and breaks. The nursing shortage is damaging the quality of work like for nurses and impairing the outcomes of healthcare to millions of patients.

            About 90% of the nursing population are white females. This is the most diverse it has ever been. Cultural education in the nursing profession would not only benefit the quality of care of nurses due to better understand of the diverse patient population, it would allow for more people from different backgrounds to feel accepted in this profession. This could have a very positive effect on the nursing shortage.

            It takes a strong, tough and emotionally stable person to be a good nurse. You have to be able to think on your feet and be in good physical shape. This is not an easy profession, though it is very rewarding. The feeling that this is a woman’s job needs to be retired. Nurses are soldiers on the battle field of healthcare and it takes one hell of a person to be a nurse.

Works Cited

Association, The Journal of the American Medical. (2002). Hospital Nurse Staffing and Patient Mortality, Nurse Burnout, and Job Dissatisfaction. American Medical Association : http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/288/16/1987.full.pdf+html?sid=bbbe6c27-1080-4a30-949f-b2d6dc7d122b.

NursingAdvocacy.org. (2007, Oct. 18). Nursing Shortage. Retrieved March 14, 2011, from NursingAdvocacy.org: http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/faq/nursing_shortage.html

Pilla, L. (1999, Oct. 22). How the Nursing Shortage Jeopardizes Patient Care. Retrieved March 6, 2011, from Nurses.com: http://www.nurses.com/article.mvc/How-the-Nursing-Shortage-Jeopardizes-Patient-0001#con

Top 5 Community Colleges in Florida

After painstakingly comparing all the community colleges in Florida I narrowed it down to the top 5 based on the following criteria:

·         Graduation rate

·         Cost of tuition and books/supplies

·         Campus security

·         Availability of financial assistance

·         Availability of programs

This is a non-biased comparison based on facts, statistics and student testimonials.

#5 North Florida Community College

Known as a small college with big possibilities, NFCC has accommodated the counties of North Florida for over 50 years. Their talented and highly trained instructors and staff are proud to know their students by name. They offer exceptional learning opportunities with small class sizes (unusually under 25 students) and affordable tuition ($86 per credit). NFCC has a graduation rate about 40% which is one of the highest in the state (among community colleges). They also offer many out-of-classroom opportunities, tutoring programs, disability services and easy to understand financial aid assistance.

http://www.nfcc.edu/

850.973.2288      

#4 South Florida Community College

This active school has eight campuses in three counties. Currently serving about 3,000 students, NFCC has an overall graduation rate of 44%. They offer degrees in many in demand fields and encourage their students to participate in decision making for the school, cultural activities, games, intercollegiate athletics and various activities. They currently offer 60 associate degrees and 13 bachelor’s degrees. SFCC also has one of the best safety records and lowest crime rate in Florida.

http://www.southflorida.edu/

863-453-6661

#3 Valencia Community College

Valencia Community College, located in Orlando, is one of the largest community colleges accommodating nearly 40,000 students. They somehow manage to keep their class sizes small (around 30 students) enough to allow every student to ask questions and get personalized attention. Valencia also has one of the leading graduation rates in the state at 41% and it won’t cost you and arm and a leg to be one of those 41%. Valencia is one of the more affordable college choices in Florida. One student reviews “I can learn so much at Valencia, and it doesn't cost that much. I have friends who complain about prices at other colleges, but thanks to Valencia's fantastic prices, I can afford to go to college. In fact, I plan on taking as many required classes as I can at Valencia because they're so inexpensive.” Valencia is a 2 year school and a great way for anyone to start their college career.

http://valenciacc.edu/

407-299-5000

#2 Brevard Community College

Brevard Community College makes the list at number two. While most of the community colleges in Florida have an average graduation rate of about 35% BCC has a graduation rate of 48%, second only to the No.1 spot. BCC is one of the most affordable colleges in Florida as well.  Students review BCC “ridiculously cheap” and “the frugal choice.”

BCC offers a friendly and helpful staff that strives to make the students feel comfortable and help them know everything they need to be successful. One student says “Brevard Community College (BCC) harvests a certain kind of environment that motivates and inspires everyone to learn, even the teachers.”

http:// www.brevard.cc.fl.us

(321) 623-1111

#1 Santa Fe College in Gainesville FL

Santa Fe College, a.k.a. the “Gateway to the Gators” is a four year college and has the highest graduation rate of any community college in Florida at 57%. It is also a very affordable college with a plethora of educational opportunities and an impressive athletic department. The class sizes are small enough to allow every student one-on-one attention and time to have all of their questions answered. The teachers here are known for their friendliness and enthusiasm. And parents need not worry, day care services are offered for the children of SFC students right on campus. If you’re hungry, but strapped for cash, the food bank makes regular trips to campus, there’s a vegetable garden that you can volunteer your time to for food along with many other opportunities for food assistance.  And with the SFC police always on campus, this college has very little crime.

For their success rate, affordable classes, care and concern for the students and their well being, large number of educational opportunities, happy students, outstanding athletics, job placement and campus security Santa Fe College was a shoo-in for the number one spot.

The atmosphere

The atmosphere at Santa Fe is comfortable and accommodating. You can hang out at the game lounge with your friends between classes or join one of their many clubs. One student reviews “I love the atmosphere here. There are many clubs that you can join. People are very nice, there are places that have couches and I've seen many people sleeping and no one bothers them, I've even sat on one of the couches and slept before my class starts. It's great!”

Educational Opportunities

The educational opportunities offered at Santa Fe include: college prep, continuing workforce education, associate of science degrees, associate of arts degrees, bachelor degrees, H.S. dual enrollment, educator preparation program, fast track degrees and certificates (2 years and under to graduation), parenting classes, an honors program, distant learning, study abroad and community education.

http://www.sfcollege.edu/

(352) 359-5000

Choosing a college can be a difficult choice for anyone. Especially when knew to the whole process. I encourage you to get as much info on a college as possible before making your decision and don’t be intimidated by the whole admission and financial aid process. All colleges have staff that will walk you through the process and make it as painless as possible. In this economy, going back to college can prove to be one of the best investments an adult can make!

References:

The National Center for Educational Statistics

http://nces.ed.gov/

Students Review

http://www.studentsreview.com

College Prowler

http://collegeprowler.com

Cappex

http://www.cappex.com

Community College Review

http://www.communitycollegereview.com

Alternative Energy Sources A brief overview of each type

Wind Energy

First off, there’s wind energy. This method uses turbines to harness the energy produced by wind, by allowing the rotation of the turbine to be converted into an electrical current through the use of an electrical generator. There is no pollution created as a result of wind energy and the turbines can be placed just about anywhere, such as livestock pastures and even off-shore. Wind energy isn’t constant and subject to several days with no wind at all.

Solar Power

Another option is solar power which is, of course, energy produced by the sun. This method uses solar cells to trap the sun’s rays and convert it into electricity. It produces no pollution, but there are days when the sun doesn’t shine.

Geothermal energy

This is the use of steam produced by naturally hot rocks in the earth to rotate turbines to produce energy. Geothermal energy plants aren’t supposed to produce pollution, but if not built correctly, may. Also, if the hole drilled in the earth is not done correctly; other harmful minerals and gases may be released into the air. These plants are expected to eventually run out of steam; whereas the wind and the sun never run out.

Hydroelectric power

Hydroelectric power is a good option. All it requires is dammed up water to spin turbines to produce energy. Water can be stored for times of less water; whereas wind, the sun’s rays and steam cannot. It can cost a lot to build a dam and the source of water needs to be powerful, but this method, also, does not produce pollution.

Bio fuels

This one has a few more problems than the previous that I’ve mentioned. Bio fuels are fuels created from animals or plants, such as animal waste and wood chippings. Ethanol, derived from corn, is a popular one, but it takes fossil fuel to produce and harvest corn. And converting it into ethanol is more expensive than producing the same amount of gas. Also, converting to the use of bio fuels would be an extremely expensive change for most households and, in most cases, just not possible.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is a good energy source for the environment and is good for powering cars, but it’s not profitable because it takes more energy to make it than it produces.

Nuclear energy

Nuclear energy is energy produced by the fission or fusion of atoms. A single nuclear power plant can produce a very large amount of energy, but it can be extremely expensive to build. Also, nuclear waste is very hazardous and a nuclear power plant runs the risk of a meltdown which can cause an area to be inhabitable for years.   

I think wind power, solar power and hydroelectric power are all promising sources of energy and should be used together. These methods do not create any pollution and wind and solar is generally affordable. Also, all three types are “renewable” energy sources because wind, sun and water do not run out.

The 4 Styles of Parenting

Annotated Bibliography

1.      Darling, Nancy PhD, MS. (2010). Parenting Style and Its Correlates. Retrieved on August 23, 2010, from http://library.adoption.com/articles/parenting-style-andits-correlates.html.

2.      Iannelli, Vincent  M.D. (2004). Parenting Styles: Parenting Tips. Retrieved on August 16,             2010, from http://pediatrics.about.com/od/infantparentingtips/a/04_pntg_styles.htm.

3.      Marsiglia, Cheryl S. Walczyk, Jeffrey J. Buboltz, Walter C. Griffith-Ross, Diana A. (2007). Retrieved on August 23, 2010, from http://www.scientificjournals.org/journals2007/articles/1031.htm.

4.      Reeve, Jay PhD. (2010). The Three Styles of Parenting. Retrieved on August 17, 2010, from http://www.lifespan.org/services/childhealth/parenting/styles.htm.

5.      Tiller, Amy E BS ME. Garrison, Betsy Ph.D. Block, Elizabeth B MPH. Cramer, Kathryn M.S. Tiller, Vicky M.S. (2002). The Influence of Parenting Styles on Children’s Cognitive Development. Retrieved on September 1, 2010, from http://www.kon.org/urc/tiller.pdf.

The Talented Jenny Rome

This is a super talented close friend of mine. If you appreciate good music, good guitar,meaningful songs, a pretty voice, or just a pretty face :) I recommend taking the time to watch this video in its entirety.

Starving Children

15 million children die of starvation every year

160 million children under the age of 5 are malnourished

1 out of every 12 children in the United States goes to bed hungry every night

Half of the children under 5 in South Asia are malnourished

183 million children are underweight

16,000 children die every day from hunger related causes

At least 20% of American children are living in food insecure households

14 million children in the United States live in poverty (about 19%)

Recourses for Helping

Bread for the World

http://www.bread.org/help/

Feeding America

http://feedingamerica.org/take-action.aspx

Africare

http://www.africare.org/our-work/index.php

The Clean Water Crisis

I’m a huge fan of water. There’s nothing more refreshing than a tall glass of clean water after a nice walk on a sunny day. I love taking a relaxing bath after a hard day and I always appreciate a scenic view of a lake or the ocean. There aren’t many things that are more satisfying than a shower after a long day, most of us can probably agree with that. Think about all the reasons you love clean water. It keeps our cars clean, our kids clean and it allows our gardens to grow. Have you ever had a water balloon or squirt gun battle?

Our bodies are about 70% water. When we are fully hydrated we are able to think clearer, our muscles work more efficiently, our immune systems function better, and our body is able to detoxify better. (Snape, 2005). Did you know that unclean water is the greatest killer of children under five years old in the world? 1.1 billion people don’t have access to a clean source of water. (Hart, 2010).

·         1.4 million children die annually from diarrhea as a result of contaminated water

·         80% of illnesses are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions in developing countries

·         More than one third of the world’s population does not have access to sanitation facilities

·         One half of the world’s hospital beds are occupied as a result of waterborne illness at any given moment

Waterborne Diseases

·         Cholera

·         Typhoid Fever-responsible for 200,000 deaths each year

·         E. coli

·         Salmonella

·         Botulism

·         Hepatitis A

·         Dysentery

·         Cryptosporidiosis

·         Giardia

·         Polio

·         Schistosomiaisis- the second most devastating parasitic disease in the world (malaria is first).

Dehydration can cause

·         Blindness

·         Electrolyte imbalance

·         Kidney failure

·         Confusion

·         Coma

·         Shock

·         Death

Give the gift of clean water:

http://thewaterproject.org/

http://www.chrf.org/future-clean-water.html

http://waterwellsforafrica.org/

I am not affiliated with any of these sites in any way; they are just trusted organizations working hard to bring the people of under developed countries a clean course of water.

More info on waterborne diseases

Cholera is an acute disease of the small intestine that is characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and muscle cramps; which can lead to severe dehydration, depletion of electrolytes, acidosis, shock, and death. Some cases of cholera lead to rapid death. Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholera and is transmitted through food and water contaminated with feces. (Cholera, 2010).

Typhoid Fever is an acute, life-threatening disease caused by Salmonella typhi that is transmitted by food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person. Once the bacteria are consumed they will travel to the intestines where they will perforate the intestinal wall and contaminate the blood stream (a condition known as septicemia) which allows it to travel to other parts of the body. Signs and symptoms of Typhoid Fever include rapid onset of high fever, severe headaches, nausea, weakness and fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation, rash, and sometimes a hoarse cough. (Typhoid Fever, 2010).

E. coli is a disease caused by the organism Escherichia coli that is obtained by consuming contaminated food or swimming/bathing in contaminated water. It is characterized by severe bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting. E. coli may lead to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, a life-threatening form of kidney failure. (E. coli, 2009).

Botulism is a food and waterborne disease caused by a toxin that is produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Botulism can also occur in infants who consume the spores of the botulinum bacteria. Botulism, in all forms, is very dangerous. It is estimated that 1 gram of this toxin could kill about 1 million people. Symptoms include double and/or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth and muscle weakness. If left untreated, this disease may progress into paralysis. This paralysis can occur in the muscles used to breathe causing respiratory failure and death. (MedicineNet Inc., 2010).
Hepatitis A is a viral infection that is contracted by consuming food or water that is contaminated with the feces of an infected person. The virus is simply called the Hepatitis A Virus (HAV). Symptoms of Hepatitis A include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and pain, loss of appetite, low grade fever, dark urine, muscle pain, itching and jaundice. Not everyone who contracts this infection will develop symptoms. Symptoms usually last less than 2 months but may last as long as 6 months. (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2009). References

Cholera. (2010). Retrieved Nov. 20, 2010, from WrongDiagnosis.com: http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/cholera/intro.htm

E. coli. (2009, July 28). Retrieved Nov. 20, 2010, from MayoClinic.com: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/e-coli/DS01007

Hart, A. (2010). Clean Water – Do You Care Enough? Retrieved Nov. 19, 2010, from HealthyDrinkingWaterBlog.com: http://www.healthydrinkingwaterblog.com/importance-of-clean-drinking-water/clean-water-do-you-care-enough-21/

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2009, Sept. 5). Hepatitis A. Retrieved Nov. 22, 2010, from MayoClinic.com: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hepatitis-a/DS00397/METHOD=print

MedicineNet Inc. (2010). Botulism. Retrieved Nov. 21, 2010, from eMedicineNet.com: http://www.medicinenet.com/botulism/article.htm

Snape, D. (2005, Feb. 1). The Importance of Clean Water. Retrieved Nov. 19, 2010, from ezinearticles.com: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=David_Snape

Typhoid Fever. (2010, April 9). Retrieved Nov. 20, 2010, from MayoClinic.com: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/typhoid-fever/DS00538





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