A NEW TWIST ON THE NURSING SHORTAGE--DISAPPEARING INSTRUCTORS: THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

You all know there is an acute shortage around the world of skilled (registered) nurses. Quite properly, there has been a real effort to increase the number of accredited, well staffed nursing schools. Great, as far as it goes.

Now, demographics have started to happen. There is at least a national shortage of nursing INSTRUCTORS, maybe even international. As a consequence, our old and new nursing schools are admitting fewer students. Our graduate and specialized nursing programs are closing or shrinking.

I can think of some possible solutions but this is a true emergency. One day, the hospitalized patient will push that button and a convenience store clerk with purple hair and a tongue stud will decide whether to page the one nurse on call or just sell the croaking patient a lottery ticket.

This is a golden goose thing. If we lose the instructors who make the nurses, well, nurses, we ultimately get more of what we've already got: a dangerous and intractable shortage of key players in the health care system.