Nursing Reentry isn't the Panacea for Nursing Shortage

Between Medicare, Obamacare, polarized politics and the sky high budget deficit, healthcare reform is as much an oxymoron as it is a description of the fastest growing segment of both personal and governmental budgets. Regardless of where you stand politically on the subject, almost everyone agrees the current state of healthcare is bad, eroding, unaffordable and unsustainable. One of the most pressing issues in healthcare today is a national nursing shortage. This, during a time when many universities are reducing resources for their nursing schools and immigration policy is making it more difficult for qualified foreign nurses to begin careers here in the U.S. It would seem to be the perfect time for former nurses to consider returning to the profession through nursing reentry programs or "refresher courses", but that doesn't seem to be the case. What is thwarting these seasoned professionals from taking advantage of this great opportunity to return to nursing?

It would seem a natural for health professionals to return to the workforce. Many former nurses want to return because they have to. The Great Recession has taken a toll on the middle and working classes of America, and for most nurses this was the best paying job they have held. But there seems to be a number of reasons nursing reentry hasn't played a bigger part of solving the nursing shortage. Rather than reaching out to help this valuable pool of health professionals make their reentry easy, many hospitals choose instead to take new graduates from nursing schools. It might be because they are up-to-date with new technologies and skills, but cynics suggest it's because they are easier to mold and less likely to stand up for themselves in a profession where being tough is required for self-preservation from domineering doctors and administrators.

Many nurses are also fearful of the challenges and changes that have taken place since they last practiced. This is a legitimate concern but one that is shared by anyone returning to old fields of play. And that's what nursing reentry courses are designed to do--fill in the knowledge gaps between past and present. This presents yet another anxiety for many returning nurses: the cost of nursing reentry courses and concerns about meeting all criteria to return without the guarantee of a job waiting at the end of the process. Most programs comprise of two segments: classroom and "clinicals." The former is pretty straightforward, taking a series of courses, often online, and costing as much as $2,400 for an average of 160 hours. Online continuing education courses can sometimes apply, too. The clinicals require working in a clinical environment for a state required number of hours. While some programs offer assistance in finding a position (unpaid), it's almost never guaranteed, and with many hospitals actually laying off health professionals (exasperating the nursing shortage), it can be very difficult finding placement. Without fulfilling the clinical component, an aspiring nurse may be left in the cold and out the cost of courses.

While healthcare reform is a moving target, many components of the likely outcome offer a variety of solutions that may reduce the nursing shortage. First, nursing schools are likely to receive funding to address this issue at the grassroots level. This may also help with nursing reentry programs. Healthcare reform also focuses on specific areas like primary care, palliative care and geriatric nursing, all of which could benefit healthcare professionals disproportionately that specialize in these areas. Finally, if the politically charged insurance mandate results in all (or most) Americans being covered by health insurance it would figure there would be an increase in services and thus require more health professionals in the system. But whether healthcare reform passes or not, eventually the economy will improve, nursing schools will add more students and more healthcare professionals of all stripes will be back to work. At least we can hope. After all, while healthcare reform may remain an oxymoron, any industry working with the health insurance industry is sure to succeed.