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7/14/2008
A July 11, 2008 MSNBC article reports that, across the country, an impending nursing shortage is not due to a lack of students interested in nursing but, rather, a lack of educators to match student demand. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the nursing shortage may reach half a million by the year 2025. It is estimated that a shortage of nurses currently contributes to nearly one-fourth of the 100,000 preventable hospital deaths that occur annually. Although experts in the health field contend that a 4:1 ratio of patients to nurses is ideal, most hospitals are unable to match that figure. Several states are considering legislation to lower the number of patients per nurse. One possible reason for the nursing teacher shortage is the fact that, in general, qualified nurses can earn significantly more in clinical practice than they can in front of a classroom.
The article is available at the MSNBC Web site.
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