Shortage of Nurses Is a National Problem

Will Rogers, the great American humorist, used to say, “All I know is what I read in the papers.” These days, it seems that all we know from reading the papers is that a nurse-staffing crisis exists at St. John’s hospitals in Oxnard and Camarillo.

This supposed crisis is being attributed to a lack of attention by hospital management. Yet the facts as I know them tell a much different story.

Serious shortages of nurses are showing up all across the nation. The Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals recently described the situation as a “national health care emergency.”

Unless something happens to encourage more people to enter the nursing profession, the aging of America’s population virtually guarantees a serious national problem.

According to the American Organization of Nurse Executives, nearly 50% of hospitals are experiencing difficulty recruiting critical-care nurses. More than 40% have trouble finding qualified emergency, labor and delivery and surgical care nurses.

Why is this happening?

Fewer students are choosing nursing programs at the very time the demand for health services of all kinds is increasing with the increasing average age of our population.

In part this reflects the increased variety of career opportunities available today. Although law schools and master’s of business administration programs have record numbers of students, nursing programs are on the decline. Everywhere we turn we find the economic success of the past decade has drawn talented and dedicated people away from the health care professions and toward more lucrative career opportunities.

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Despite there being 2.6 million registered nurses in the United States, there are too few with specialized skills and experience. Nurses are in particular demand if they demonstrate skills in the operating room, recovery room, emergency room or labor and delivery. To reverse the shortage hospitals are offering large sign-on bonuses, salary increases and tuition reimbursement plans.

To combat the problem locally, St. John’s Regional Medical Center and St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital have dramatically stepped up recruitment programs. We have made real progress in recruiting direct patient care employees this year.

Recently we implemented equity salary adjustments and per diem increases to make our salaries competitive in the very tight Ventura County labor market. And we are going beyond Ventura County to recruit nurses across the nation and in Canada.

We participate with other local hospitals in giving financial support to the Moorpark College nursing program. Nurses are the front line of our patient care efforts and the backbone of hospitals. We do everything possible to attract and retain the best nurses to meet the needs of our patients.

Unfortunately, the nursing issues and financial pressures facing St. John’s hospitals are but a microcosm of the broader health care crisis in California. Declining payments from federal and state health programs, cost cutting by health insurance plans, escalating supply and labor costs and unfunded government mandates combine to make today’s health care environment more challenging than ever before.

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The California Healthcare Assn. says that 64% of California hospitals are losing money providing patient services. As a result, bond ratings for California hospitals are deteriorating rapidly, hampering operations and making financing new construction more difficult.

Like most hospitals, St. John’s hospitals staff for what we call “expected volumes.” Any unexpected event or series of events can quickly redefine our staffing needs. For example, a nurse in the emergency room may call in sick or an accident may occur on the freeway, sending an influx of patients to our hospitals.

When events change our staffing needs, we quickly respond. That usually means redistributing the staff on duty. As quickly as possible, supplemental nurses are brought in to work in the affected areas.

The point is that St. John’s adjusts staffing to meet demands.

Why wouldn’t we?

Patient care is, and always will remain, our highest priority. Despite the harsh realities of staffing challenges and financial pressures, patient care has not been and will not be compromised.

St. John’s Regional Medical Center and St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital remain an integral part of Ventura County’s health care system.