Essay on Nursing Workforce Supply and Demand Analysis: Quality Forecasts Using HWSM

Introduction

In my view, this report has provided a quality analysis of the projections of the supply and demand among the nursing workforce between 2014 and 2030, backed up by credible evidence. More importantly, the fact that forecasts in the study were developed using the Health Resources and Services Administration through the Health Workforce Simulation Model (HWSM) shows the accuracy of the study along with the forecasts made. I, therefore, feel that the study's conclusion about an excess of the national RN and the deficit in LPN should be considered to provide for quality healthcare in America. Furthermore, I think that the authors did quality work in their analysis process, as well as discussing the conclusions of the findings.

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How my Practice Geographic are Affected

Future supply and demand of both RN and LPN nurses will affect different geographical locations with different magnitudes, depending on the described factors, including population growth, the aging factor, economic conditions, among other aspects. My geographic area California is the most affected, with an undersupply of 44,500 RN (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2017). With a shortage in the RN nurses, the health quality of the state will be affected immensely, considering that registered nurses are among the essential practitioners after LPNs. Furthermore, this shortage would mean that the existing nurses will have to overwork, to fill the current gap in the region, a fact that would only lower the quality of health further, due to fatigue. As such, measures should be put in action to ensure that the region receives more registered nurses, which can include sourcing them from areas that have an oversupply.

Where the above Places me in the Professional Arena

As a Licensed Practical Nurse, the deficit of registered nurses in my geographical area puts me in a bad position, with projected long working hours to compensate for the existing and projected gap. Moreover, due to the deficit, I am also open to work harder to ensure that the level of healthcare in California is maintained at a quality level. Moreover, the situation puts me in a fixed position, where I cannot be able to transfer in other regions since my practice is in high demand in the state. The situation further puts me in a different position with the rest of the LPNs, whose states have a surplus of RNs, as I have to maintain a slightly different work schedule towards satisfying the existing demand of nurses in the region.

Potential Advanced Practice Issues that Might Arise as a Result of these Projections

The report concludes that there is a projection of surplus and deficit in RNs and LPNs in various states. In the event of a deficit, nurses would be required to work for long hours, under extremely stressful conditions that can further result in injuries and job dissatisfaction. As such, nurses working in these conditions will likely make mistakes as well as medical errors and therefore compromise patients' quality of health. Moreover, this will also result in a rise in preventable complications such as medical errors, overcrowding of emergency rooms as well as an increased mortality rate. On the other hand, a surplus in nurses may result in disadvantages towards their incomes, as they may have to accept lower payments to be employed. There will also be an increased level of unemployment of nurses due to reduced demand.

Reference

US Department of Health and Human Services. (2017). Supply and Demand Projections of the Nursing Workforce: 2014-2030.